1.-13

4

The principal requirement under this scheme is that of fair and honest packing. The working of the scheme by the Department of Agriculture would be, briefly, as follows : — The Department would issue a registered mark to all market-gardeners and others, wishing to join the scheme. A producer's registered mark would be withdrawable in accordance with the rules. The rules would provide for fair and honest packing, and the suspension of the use of his registered mark on the part of any producer whose pack was found on inspection to be contrary to requirements —namely, that the fruits or vegetables, as the case might be, of any exposed portion of the package a.re a true indication of the contents. The suspension of the use on the part of a producer of the registered brand allotted to him on account of faulty packing to be for any period not exceeding twelve months. All fruit or vegetables, &c., packed under this scheme would be exposed for sale in auction-rooms in lots separate from other produce of a similar class offered for sale at the same time, such lots to include only those bearing a registered brand issued under the scheme. In all auction-rooms where this scheme is operating the Department of Agriculture to maintain a reasonably consistent scheme of inspection. The penalty for a breach of the rules of this scheme to be more of a moral nature, consisting of the stigma that would apply to a producer being publicly debarred, from further submitting his produce for sale along with that of honest packers. Together with this scheme would run, of course, the present Fair Marketing Regulations, under which dishonest packing, when discovered, leads to prosecution. Standardization of Containers. —It is evident from the evidence submitted that there are a variety of containers of different sizes and shapes in use in the fruit and vegetable trade. Many of these have no particular merit, and serve no useful purpose that would not be as well served by a lesser number. Not only is the present number of containers unnecessary, but it is actually harmful in so far as it leads to confusion both to the buyer and producer. The Committee is strongly of the opinion that a range of containers of shapes and capacities suitable for all phases of the trade should be selected and brought into universal use by regulations under the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, 1928. When selected, such containers should be known respectively to the trade by some distinguishing indication which should be quoted in all important market reports. The Committee recommends that the officers of the Departments of Agriculture and Industries and Commerce go into this matter, and, in consultation with the interests concerned determine upon a range of containers suitable for universal use. Power already exists in the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, 1928, to give effect to the whole of the foregoing proposals, excepting those having to do with the retail sale of standardized fruit. This could also be provided for by means of a simple amendment to the same Act. As this represents one of the principal features of the suggested market-improvements, the Committee recommends an amendment on the following lines being enacted during the present session of Parliament : — A Bill intituled an Act to amend the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, 1928. BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. This Act may be cited as the Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Act, 1930, and shall be read together with and deemed part of the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, 1928 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act). 2. Section twenty-three of the principal Act is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (d) the following paragraph : — " (iid) Prescribing the channels through which and the conditions subject to which fruit shall be sold for consumption in New Zealand or in any specified portion or portions of New Zealand, and generally regulating the marketing of such fruit in New Zealand, or in any specified portion or portions thereof." As regards imported fruit, the evidence tendered to the Committee is so conflicting that it is unable to make any definite recommendations. It is clear, however, that further exhaustive investigations should be made by the two Departments concerned. Particular attention should be paid to the carriage of fruit from the Pacific islands, to its repacking in this country by the auctioneers (which at present seems to be done without sufficient discrimination), and to the serious losses incurred by the shipment of fruit in non-insulated vessels. Apparently, some of the ships now being used for this purpose are quite unfitted for the work. As a consequence, considerable sums of money are lost every year by exporters and importers, thereby increasing the cost to consumers. Little evidence was put before the Committee on the subject of cool-storage. It recommends, therefore, that the Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Department of Industries and Commerce, should investigate the possibilities of developing the cool-storage of fruit in New Zealand. It especially recommends this suggestion to the Unemployment Board, as a means of fostering the development of the fruit trade in the direction of reducing unemployment. In conclusion, the Committee desires to state that the present report does not claim to be entirely complete. The subject-matter is too large and involved for a sessional Committee to deal with in all its ramifications. It is not even clear that a parliamentary Committee has all the powers that are needed to clear up important doubtful points. In the opinion of the Committee, either it should be appointed as a recess Committee with enlarged powers, or alternately, the inquiry should be continued in the four centres by the Department of Industries and Commerce (which already has all needed powers) and the Department of Agriculture, with whom should be associated one or more members of Parliament. 14th October, 1930.