H—3OA

The following table shows the sources from which produce was received and the points to which it was directed (year ending 31st March, 1946): —

(a) Contract Growers On receiving advice from the United States Joint Purchasing Board in September, 1945, that further vegetable-supplies would not be required from New Zealand, the Division notified growers immediately of the changed situation. To ensure that the cancellation procedure operated smoothly each contractor in the various production districts was visited, the facts explained, and records taken of the extent to which cultivation in the field had progressed. Explanations were also made to the growers on the method which would be followed in compensating them for the work already performed in preparing for crops which would not now be sown or transplanted. Later, District Compensation Committees were set up, consisting of one representative each of the growers, the Internal Marketing Division and the Department of Agriculture. They visited the properties, and checked the growers' claims, after which recommendations for compensation followed. These claims were again reviewed in Wellington by a Central Committee, similarly representative as the District Committees before being presented to the Minister of Marketing. The exceedingly small number of requests for review indicates the effectiveness of this procedure. Crops already planted were lifted on maturity in compliance with the Division's contractual obligations.

(6) Non-contract Growers In order to supplement supplies coincident with. sMpping movements and to obtain varieties not grown by contract, limited private purchases were negotiated. (c) Services Vegetable Production Scheme This project (Government farms under the control of the Department of Agriculture) was put in hand in July, 1942, to ensure immediate Army supply. As private production increased, the Services Vegetable Production areas were scaled down and have now gone out of existence. During 1945 the vegetables they produced were handled by the Division.

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Bef. Receipts Ex Tons (lint rimmed). Ref. l Deliveries to Tons (Un trimmed Basis). (a) (b) (c) Contract growers Non-contract growers .. Services Vegetable Production Scheme 23,109 2,114 4,636 (d) («) (/) United States Joint Purchasing BoardFresh Dehydration New Zealand Armed Forces and New Zealand markets 12,860 7,492 9,507 29,859 29,859

Area cultivated for— Acres. Number of Claims. Amount paid. Beetroot 90 Cabbage 2,078 I 44a £ Cauliflower 116 M46 21,350 Carrots 966 1 J" 3,250 Estimated amount to be paid on unsettled claims 2,000 Approximate total .. 23,350