MR PARKER’S EVIDENCE AT FRUIT INQUIRY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 15

MR PARKER’S EVIDENCE AT FRUIT INQUIRY

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 11.

Public complaint in a lot of cases concerning quality and quantity of apples was justified. especially in Auck-

land. said Mr J. H. Parker, chairman of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Board, during cross-examination at the Committee of Inquiry into apole and pear marketing in Wellington today. In part of the season, such complaints did occur, and were justified. said Mr Parker.

The board did not want consumers to pay high prices for lower-grade fruit, he said. Auckland did not grow enough fruit to feed itself, and had to obtain supplies from outside the province. Mr Parker said. About one third of New Zealand's popu-

lation was there, but fewer than 20.000 cases of three varieties of apples—Gravenstesn, Cox's Orange, and Jonathan —were grown in Auckland. A total of 800.000 cases was produced in New Zealand.

Mr Parker instanced fruit being taken from Nelson by the board to meet the Auckland situation. The cost of this to the board was Id a lb.

‘‘Complaints were less justified today than when the Apple and Pear Board came into being.” said Mr Parker. From the wholesaler’s and retailer's point of view, the quality of the board's fruit had improved greatly. "We are doing everything we can do to improve things,” he said.