[.—loa.

34

[H. E. NAPIER.

41. Hon. Mr. Nosworthy.] Have, all the fruitgrowers an opportunity of sharing in the order from Hore and Co., of Montevideo ? —Yes, they all have an opportunity of sharing. If there is an oversupply we said we would divert it and average the: price. 42. You are aware of the fact that the Fruit Control Bill in Queensland is a more democratic measure than this one ? —Yes, the growe:r there has no say. 43. You do not think, then, that the present Bill contains anything out of the way, seeing they have more absolute control in Queensland ? —You are right. 44. You say they would not want to go to England so much as before ?—I do not know how much other Boards have gone. The fruitgrowers woulel like a trip, but they cannot afford it. 45. Mr. Corrigan.] In giving your evidence you said there was an Argentine firm purchased from you f.o.b. he:re, and then they did not put up the credits ? —Yes, they purchased for 10s. 6d. It woulel average about lis. 46. Could you tell us what happened that they did not stick to their New Ze:al,and bargain ? — The: reason why they did not do it was because; the growers in New Zealand ceiulel semd representatives over there with consignments of fruit for sale. They did not want to go into competition with fruit on consignment which could be: sold internationally. 47. That lis. a case would be: —what ?- It would be approximately 15s. 6d. net in the Argentine ; then there would be lighterage of Is. Bd., equal tei 17s. 2s. The price that stuff would be sold at would be from 255. to 30s. a case. 48. They did not think they made a bad bargain ? —Certainly not. 49. Hon. Mr. Nosworthy.] Then, if you coulel make a sale of, say, seventy thousanel, eighty thousand, or one: hundred thousand cases of fruit on eejual terms f.o.b. South Africa, it woulel be to the advantage of New Zealand, if there was another market, to stop further supplies going out ?■— Yes, sir. 50. Stop everybody competing against the people that would give you f.o.b. here ? —Yess.

Wednesday, 10th September, 1924. Frank Sisson examined. (No. 11.) 1. The Chairman.] You are a fruitgrower ? —Yes, that is so. 2. At Papanui ? —Yes. 3. You wish to make a statement to this Committee in connection with this Bill now before it ? —Yes. I may say that as far as the Bill is concerned we in Christchurch arc against it as it stands, and there; is not a single part of it that we are in. favour of. At a special meeting of fruitgrowers in Christchurch —that is, the Fruitgrowers' Association —we discussed the whole Bill and went through every clause, and we passed a unanimous resolution entirely against the Bill. We cannot see that we should grow the fruit and do all the necessary work in connection with that industry for the; whole year and then at a later stage: have a neiticc put in the newspaper, if this Bill were carried, that the Control Board is to assume control over tho whole business, and wo woulel have nothing more to do with it. We are unable to see how we could possibly run our business under those conditions. Clause 9of the Bill (" particular powers of Board ") reads — " 9. (1.) Without limiting any authority specifically conferred on the Export Control Board, the Board shall have full authority to make such arrangements and give such directions as it thinks proper for the following matters : — " (a.) For the grading, packing, handling, and storage of fruit of which it has assumed control; " (b.) For tho shipment of such fruit on such terms and in such quantities as it thinks fit; " (c.) Feir the sale anel disposal of such fruit on such terms as it thinks advisable,; " (d.) For the insurance against loss of any such fruit either in New Zealand or in transit from New Zealand and until disposed of ; " (e.) For the display of any fruit at exhibitions or elsewhere ; and " (/.) Generally for all such matters as are necessary for or incidental to the due elischarge of its functions in handling, distributing, and disposing eif fruit. " (2.) For the purpose of securing any advances that may be made to the: Board eir to the owners of any fruit at the request of the Board, the Boarel shall, by virtue of this Act, anel without further authority, have full power on behalf of the owners of any fruit to give security over such fruit and to execute all mortgages and other instruments of assurance in the; same manner in all respects as if the Boarel we:ro the legal owners of such fruit." It seems to me, according to my interpretation of that clause, that the: Boarel would have: power to do what they like with the fruit, and could execute such mortgages as the Board think fit, and thus prevent the owners of the fruit from executing any mortgages they may desire in connection with that fruit. I may say that I have: to pay £2,000 per annum alone for cost of labour. At the present time I am able to go to the manager of the bank and tell him. that I have twenty-five thousand cases of fruit anel I want to obtain a loan from the bank, but if the Bill is passed into law I shall not be able to make my own arrangements, because the: Board will take full charge of the: whole business, and they will be able to obtain what mortgages they like ; and I submit that it would be no use trying to grow fruit under those conditions, and, moreove;r, it weiulel ruin my business. Then, so far as the local control is concerned, the Board is vested with the, same powers as those contained in the export portion eif the Bill —that is to say, they have full power to control all the fruit. Now, clauses 26, 27, and 28 read- " 26. Every Board established uneler this Act may appoint such officers and servants as it eleems necessary for the efficient carrying-out of its functions uneler this Act.