MORE OFFICIALDOM THAN FRUIT

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1946, Page 5

MORE OFFICIALDOM THAN FRUIT

— Press Association

EXCEPT WHEN ORDERS BY MINISTERS DISOBEYED

By Telegravh-

. \V BEBINGTON, Aug. 14. General disappoiutmeht was ex pressed , hy luembers of;, the Xev. Zealand Fruit and Produce ' Alerchants and Auctioueers' Federation froni evefy part of the Dominion, at the manner in which apples and pears liave this yeat heen distrihuted hy the Internal Marketing Division, states a report of a ineeting of the executive committee of the Federation held in Wellington today. The report states that certain varieties of apples were not niade availahle to the puhlic from the orchards hut were evidentlv slored under adverse conditions with the result that thev reached the markets in a state which often called for repacking. During the flush period in late April and Atay, thousands of cases oi fruit reached the markets in an over niature condition and showing evidencc of having heen held in hulk stacks in

stead of being kept in the orchard oi cool store. Beeause of this, states the report, the puhlic has not had the hene flt during the flush jieriod of fruit as fresli as it was entitied to expect, no have the cool stores heen used to ful capaeitv. Thus the season during whid apples should he availahle to the publi. has heen mucli curtailed. The report adds that wliile the dis trihution of apples has heen had enough, that of pears has heen deplorable. Wellington had heen fortunate in having twiee the supply of Auckland (on a population liasis) and a retaii shop in the Wairarapa district had as many as 60 cases of pears in oue weel; when Auckland City was virtually without pears. In spite of acknowledged transport (liffleulties ohtaining this season, says the report, a more expert handling of the distribution of pip fruit crops must have resnlted in the puhlic having more and better fruit and the saving of a considerable loss. The report also states that the hulk purchase scheme hy the Internal Marketing Division lias heen inefl'ective. The only centre where appreciable i saies wero effected was Auckland where the terms and conditions set out in a letter from the Minister of Marketing were ignored hy offieers of the Internal Marketing Division,