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1930. NEW ZEALAND.

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE. FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN NEW ZEALAND. (REPORT ON THE MARKETING METHODS USED IN THE SALE OF). (Mr. MUNNS, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 23rd Day of July, 1930. Ordered, " that a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to deal with all matters in connection with industries and commerce ; with power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Munns, the Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Mr. Ansell, Mr. Harris, Mr. H. Holland, Mr. Savage, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wilkinson, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. de la Perrelle.) Wednesday, the 30th Day of July, 1930. Ordered, " That it be an instruction to the Industries and Commerce Committee to investigate the marketing methods used in the sale of fresh fruit and vegetables, New-Zealand-grown and imported from islands and other overseas countries, through the various channels of distribution from grower to consumer ; the methods of packing, grading, standardization, and transport to markets ; the rates of commission, receiving and delivery charges, cool-storage charges, &c., at present being made by auctioneers, merchants, and others, and system of accounting to growers ; the various methods of selling and displaying products in wholesale and auction marts ; the margin of profits obtained by the various wholesale and retail distributors, and the method of displaying and selling to the public in retail shops; such other relative matters as the Committee may deem desirable ; and, generally, to report whether present marketing methods with respect to the sale of fresh fruit and vegetables are in the best interests of grower and consumer, and, if not, what recommendations can be submitted by the Committee, the general adoption of which would result in more economical distribution, assuring satisfactory returns to grower and reasonable prices to consumer. —"(Hon. Mr. de la Perrelle.)

REPORT. I have the honour to report that the Committee has made exhaustive inquiries as far as time and circumstances would permit. It heard evidence from forty-four witnesses, representing, as growers, auctioneers, merchants, and retailers, the following cities and towns : Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hastings, Palmerston North, Nelson, Greytown, Lower Hutt, Canterbury Province, Otago Province, Te Kauwhata, and Papakura. The evidence submitted to the Committee during the inquiry with respect to wholesale and retail practices obtaining in connection with the marketing of fruit and vegetables has amply confirmed the