I.—loa.

4

[h. TURNER.

32. You think that something is necessary —that if the conditions are to be improved it is necessary to do something ? —Well, we have the words of the president of our federation. He has been Home and has studied these points. I think the gist of his remarks is to the effect that our fruit, like many other articles produced, goes through too many hands before it reaches the consumer, and in that respect it may be possible to improve the conditions ; but to do so.it is not absolutely necessary to have this Bill. 33. But you think that something ought to be done ? —Yes, in that respect. I think an effort should be made to get our produce put through as few hands as possible before it reaches the consumer, because every channel through which it passes has to receive a fair remuneration, and. then there is very little left for the grower. 34.- Of course, you arc quite familiar with the conditions in regard to export last season and the season just finished ? —Yes, sir. 35. Well, take 1922-23 : do you not think it would have been a good thing to have then had some Board of Control ? —Our exportation only commenced seriously in .1922, and we know of no very serious matter that has cropped up that would have been very much helped by a Board of Control. 36. You do not think that a Control Board would have been of any use ? —Well, I am not prepared to say that. It is only reasonable to admit that a combination of interests in any particular direction have always rather more weight; but we have that combination of interests now in our federation. By forming a Control Board you would be simply multiplying our bodies, and multiplying our expenses. It is a question of pounds shillings and pence. 37. You. are against the pooling of provinces ? —Do you mean every province ? 38. No, within a province. Do you consider that pooling is in any way necessary ? —I do not consider it is necessary, and it certainly would not be advisable under the present system of packing. I contend that it might be arranged that any province desiring it, by a vote representing a reasonable percentage of the exporters of fruit, could decide whether they would have a pool or not. 39. Could that be done without legislation ? —I think it would require to be embodied in the Bill. 40. I do not know whether it is really a fair question to ask you or not, but I will put it to you : Have you confidence in the officers of the Horticultural Division—that is, as far as they are respectively concerned in the welfare of the industry as a whole ? —I would not like to say No to that. We come very frequently in touch, of course, with our local inspectors, and also the graders, and with those we are entirely satisfied. And when it has been necessary to go to the Head Office we have always been treated with courtesy in every shape and form. Although our views may differ, there is no question about it that what is in their minds is the welfare of the industry. 41. Now, this Board which it is proposed to set up consists of two persons to be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister. No doubt those two will be experts, probably members of the Department of Agriculture. Now, the other five will be appointed by the fruitgrowers, and they undoubtedly will appoint the men whom they consider to be the best to look after the interests of the industry. Now, I presume you would have full confidence in a Board such as that ? —lt would not be a question of confidence at all. We would have no say in the appointment. 42. The fruitgrowers would. The fruitgrowers appoint five out of the seven. The Minister appoints two, whom, undoubtedly, he considers the best in the interests of the industry ?—J think, sir, the same argument applies to members of Parliament: that as a whole we have confidence in our Parliament, but individually we look to the member representing our various districts to safeguard the interests of their people. 43. Are you a grower, Mr. Turner ?—Yes. 44. A bona fide grower ? —Yes. I am sorry to say I have put more money into the industry than I am likely to get out of it at the present time. 45. 1 concluded from your evidence that in Otago you are mainly a stone-fruit-growing district ? —ln the meantime. 46. Not very much fruit, comparatively speaking, for export ?—During the last three years we have exported a fair quantity. 47. But a comparatively small quantity ? Nothing like as much, for instance, as Nelson ? — No. There were five thousand cases the first year, eighteen thousand cases the second year, and forty-two thousand cases last year ; and we will probably increase at that rate. Mr. E. C. Reynolds examined. (No. 2.) 1. The Chairman.] Your full name, Mr. Reynolds? —Eardley Culiey Reynolds. 2. And you represent ?—I am representing the Otago Provincial Fruitgrowers' Council, of which. I am chairman ; and also the Otago Central Fruitgrowers (Limited), of which also I am chairman. Mr. Turner has also spoken on behalf of the Otr.go Provincial Fruitgrowers' Council, and I do not think it is necessary for me to reiterate what he has said. I will therefore confine myself to the Bill, more particularly from a grower's point of view, because 1 am very much interested indeed in the growing and in the Bill. Our company has something between £40,000 and. £50,000 embarked in this one venture. I cannot give you the exact figures, but it has expended from £40,000 to £50,000 for 32,000 trees on our estate. We employ a very large number of hands, and amongst them we keep seven families ; and there are a number of young packers and pickers extra. Then we have also those that we employ for casual labour picking and different things in connection with the industry, and altogether we work it out at a very large wages-bill. I think it works out at about £6,000 a year,