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3. In some countries, the provision of unessential services increases the margin between tic producer and consumer; 4. Reduction in marketing costs and margins can benefit both producer and consumer alike; The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture Recommends — 1. That the Governments and authorities here represented take all practicable steps to reduce marketing, processing, storage and distribution costs, and margins between producers and consumers, particularly by the elimination of unessential services not required by producers or by low-income consumers.* 2. That the permanent organization recommended in Resolution II collect and disseminate information on marketing costs and margins in different countries and in international trade, on the factors which determine or influence such costs and margins, and on the steps taken by Governments, by co-operative associations, and by private enterprise to reduce themf. XXXI. FISH AND MARINE PRODUCTS Whereas : 1. Fish, marine animals, and marine products are essential in high degree to the diet of the people of many countries and play an important role in the nutrition of other countries ; 2. The production of fish and marine products is vital to the economy of certain countries, and the adequate livelihood of the fisherman, like that of the farmer, depends upon a balanced world economy ; 3. Consideration of questions relating to fish and marine products is important in any programme designed to meet immediate and long-term food and other requirements ; The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture Recommends — That the general conclusions reached by this Conference apply, wherever appropriate, to fish and marine products, and that these subjects be considered by the permanent organization recommended in Resolution 11. XXXII. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture expresses its gratitude to the President of the United States of America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, for his initiative in convening the present Conference, for its preparation, and for his contribution to its success. This resolution is to be embodied in the Final Act of the- Conference. XXXIII. APPRECIATION TO THE OFFICIALS OF THE CONFERENCE Whereas : 1. The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture was able to conduct its work under conditions of exceptional efficiency ; 2. This efficiency and consequent good results in no small measure resulted from the wisdom and talents of the Chairman, the Honorable Marvin Jones, whose ideals of international solidarity were a source of inspiration and stimulus to all; 3. Without the previous and exhaustive preparation of documentary materials submitted to the Conference by the Secretariat and without its painstaking work, it would not have been possible for the Conference to attain in such a short time the results achieved ; The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture Resolves— 1. To express to its Chairman, the Honorable Marvin Jones, its deep appreciation for the admirable manner in which he has guided the Conference and to pay to him the tribute -of its gratitude ; and 2. To express to the Secretary-General, to the Press Relations Officer, to the Assistant SecretaryGeneral, to the Secretariat, and to the clerical staff its appreciation for the efficiency and diligence shown in preparing the numerous documentary materials and in assisting the Conference in attaining its objectives. In witness whereof, the following delegates sign the present Final Act — Done at Hot Springs, Virginia, on the third day of June, nineteen hundred and forty-three, in the English language, the original to be deposited in the archives of the Department of State of the United States, and certified copies thereof to be furnished by the Government of the United States of America to each of the Governments and authorities represented at the Conference. [;Signatures follow here.]

* Most of the links in the chain from producer to consumer are essential, but thore is a tendency for extravagant services to develop. Thore is considerable scope for reduction of marketing costs by the elimination of unessential services, including unnecessary transport. Attention should also be directed to the possibilities of reducing marketing, processing, and distribution costs by : (a) assisting merchants in the adoption of more efficient methods of operation ; (b) effecting such reorganization of marketing channels as may reduce to a minimum the number of steps involved in taking the products from the farms to consumers ; (c) regulating the charges of transportation agencies or other factors in marketing if such charges are not kept at reasonable levels by competition ; (d) assisting in establishing or financing on a sound commercial basis of new and moro officient processing, storage, and transportation facilities. f Although each country will seek to improve the efficiency of marketing in conformity with its economic and agricultural circumstances, there is a need for some international agency which can collect, analyse, and disseminate facts and experience relating to marketing costs and margins. Such data will assist not only Governments but also co-operatives and private enterprises in formulating policies aimed at reducing marketing costs and hence the margin betweon producer and consumer.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (550 copies), £42,

Authority: E. Y. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington, —1943.

Price Od.]

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