Apple And Pear Inquiry Resumes

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 21

Apple And Pear Inquiry Resumes

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 8. Controlled marketing had had the effect of eliminating completely some of the early varieties of apples, such as Irish Peach, the Committee of Inquiry into apple and pear marketing heard in submissions made to it in Wellington today. This was the opinion of the New Zealand Fruit and Produce Merchants’ and Auctioneers’ Federation, for which Mr Blundell made submissions. The grower of high-quality, mid-season fruit similarly had been discouraged under this system, it was submitted. Controlled marketing, on the other hand, had encouraged the marketing of some varieties of pears which, in the opinion of the , federation’s members, were of such poor quality that they should not be offered for sale. Elimination of most of the early varieties of apples, some of which once appeared on the market during December, was brought about by the fact that these early apples were generally light croppers, and growers required a price considerably higher than that offered under the bulk-buying scheme to make the growing of such fruit profitable. With a free market for apples and pears, growers of long-keeping varieties of apples were encouraged to grow for the November-De-cember market by the prospect of higher prices for their fruit at this time of the year. Bulk buying meant that varieties of apples offered for sale late in the year were not available as freely as when an uncontrolled market prevailed. Pears had never developed in New Zealand as they should, and some varieties should be eliminated, said Mr Harvey Turner, chairman and managing director of Turners and Growers, Auckland, at the hearing. He produced several kinds of pears to illustrate their disadvantages. Some kinds should be priced right down because of poor quality, he said. The Bon Chretien pear was about the only variety factories bought for canning.

It was the best. Mr Turner was answering questions put by Mr E. D. Blundell, for the New Zealand Fruit and Produce Merchants’ and Auctioneers’ Federation. The Apple and Pear Marketing Boards’ selling direct to chain stores was not in the best interests of the country, and was also unethical, said Mr Turner. Members of the federation could not see why any priority should be given to chain stores. It was both unfair to the retailer and to the produce merchant.