SURPLUS GREENS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23375, 5 December 1945, Page 4

SURPLUS GREENS

Distribution In Both Islands Wastage Avoided (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Dec. 4. 'Will the Minister of Marketing ithc Hon. B. Roberts! explain why certain growers are prohibited from marketing their vegetables and are thus left no option but to plough them in? Is the Minister aware that one grower of carrots in the Hastings district is in that position with 11 acres, and is the Minister aware that vegetables in the cities are apparently in short supply and that, consequently, the prices being charged are exorbitant and beyond the purses of the rank and file of the people? Will the Minister take steps to prevent this unnecessary wastage of food supplies?” This urgent question was asked by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (National. Waitomoi In the House to-day. Mr Roberts, replying, said there was nothing to prevent any grower in the Hastings district from marketing carrots as suggested by the member for Waitomo. The only vegetables under contract to the Internal Marketing Division which were now ready for harvesting were cabbages and beetroot, which were in surplus supply, as a result of the cancellation of American orders, over the last three weeks. Twenty thousand sacks and cases of surplus vegetables had been distributed by the Division throughout the southern half of the North Island and in the South Island as far as Christchurch. Dunedin. Greymouth and Westport, and the Division was continuing to supply surplus vegetables to all markets where transport was available. It was possible, the Minister continued. that certain vegetables just coming into production were bringing good market prices, but there were huge quantities of cabbages, potatoes, beetroot and lettuce being sold at exceptionally cheap wholesale prices. These cheap wholesale prices were not being immediately reflected in the retail trade, but he could assure the member for Waitomo that the Internal Marketing Division was taking every step to ensure that the public received those vegetables at rates considerably lower than the fixed ceilings. Some shops were featuring full supplies of cheap cabbages, cauliflowers, peas, etc., etc., as a result of contracts made by the Internal Marketing Division. The Government was opposed to any unnecessary wastage of foodstuffs as was evidenced by its efforts to spread those surpluses to consumers so long as there was any demand. The Division. was under contract with many growers to take vegetables when they matured, and if. after supplying the full needs of the market, there was no outlet for the vegetables the Division would compensate its contract growers. The Americans were paving for those vegetables for which they had contracted but which they were unable to uplift owing to the diversion of ships. Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga) said he could produce e vid rice that substantial areas of vegetables were being ploughed in. Mr J. Thqrn (Govt., Thames) : The hon. member should be ploughed in