STATE DIRECTION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20248, 17 July 1937, Page 12

STATE DIRECTION

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. NKW MARKETING SCHEME. GROWERS TO BE ORGANISED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRIST CHURCH, Friday. Although the direct State control of Internal marketing of fruit Is not intended by the Government, according to the acting-Mlnister of Marketing, ’the illon. W. Lee Martin, the Primary Products Marketing Act is to be extended to bring fruit and vegetables within its scope. It is then intended to organise growers into groups centring on committees, which might ultimately become marketing authorities, and the sale and distribution of produce will be directed by the Government. The organisation of growers, it is hoped, will be voluntary. No State Control. “ It is not intended, however, that the Government will assume control of the produce marketed.” said the Minister to-day, “but rather will it direot the sale and distribution of the produce through the various markets. Under the amended legislation power will be given to delegate certain authority to appropriate organisations, should this be considered desirable. “ Before giving effect to any scheme of reorganisation, whether local or Dominion-wide. It has been arranged that such scheme will be submitted to the Cabinet for its approval beforehand. The work of reorganisation has been placed in the hands of the director of internal marketing, (Mr F. R. Picot, with instructions that any reorganisation should be made as far as possible on a voluntary basis in the meantime. “It may be said that all attempts at voluntary organisation are bound to fall,” Mr Lee Martin said. “In the past, I admit, this has been the case, but with the Government taking an interest in It and using a guiding hand a lot of useful work can be done In this way.” Formation of Qroups. As a preliminary to the organisation of producers in the various fruitgrowing areas Into marketing groups, It would be of considerable assistance If the growers organised themselves Into provincial or district committees. These would serve as a mouthpiece for the industry and also as a liaison between the growers and the department. “At a later date it. may be desirable fo divide these committees into sub-committees t,o deal with ihe dtffprent. kinds of fruit," explained the Minister, “and they may form the nucleus of marketing authorities," These committees could also discuss questions of standardisation, cool storage facilities, transport and marketing arrangements generally, and would serve as a useful guide to the director. “To organise the growers on these lines the Department of Internal Marketing will be working in the -closest co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, and officers of both departments will from time to time visit the various districts and take an active part in organising ihe producers; they will also explain the Government’s policy.”