CONTROLS DENY PEOPLE FRUIT

Chronicle (Levin), 14 February 1947, Page 6

CONTROLS DENY PEOPLE FRUIT

—Press Assoclation

MERCHANTS SYMPAXHETIC TO GROWERS

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Fek 13. The prcvaloneCfljjt' bhicknmrkcting in perishablc food luies tliroughout the Domindon (luring the past six monlhs, was discussed at a meeting of the New Zealand Fruit and Produce Arerehants ' and Aiictionecrs ; Federation executive in Wellington. In a statcmcnt on the aubject tlie executive says: — . ' "Verv manv instances from all paris of the bominion, vvere reportcd ot' saies of vegetables, particularly potatoes and fruits, direct lo rctailers and consumers at |>riccs above those sc.heduled in pricc oruers. Growcrs naturally will endcavour to obtain tiro best returns for tlieir labour available, more so in sucli a seasou as this wlien tlie weather has affeeted crops- so adversely. The obvious result of this practice is tliat a favpured fcw get supplies and the niany go without. "Taking tlie longer vicw, a more regrcttablc result of these prico controls which have uo regard for crop delieieneies caused by inclement weather,- is that some growers teiul to go out of producing controlled lines in favour of those that are free or alternatively to concentrate on controlled lines which are easicr to produce at eertain times of the year. Others have givcn up cropping or fruit growing altogcther and put llieir land to olher uses. Some 1500 acres of apple trees have been grubbed out during the past few ycars, representing a loss of approximately 828,000 trees. "Greater production, and' so cheaper goods, is the need. It has been provcd during the past ycars that, so far at any rate as perishablc foodstuffs are concerned, this desirable object has not only not been achievcd but has also been definitcly discouragcd by' price control and ceiling prices. . The prescnt system has caused a reduetian in production and the appcarance of a eonsiderable blackmarket which price investigation control is eithcr unable or unwilling to coinbat. "The rcmoval of all restrictions and price controls from x perishablc foods would imhiediately encourage greater production in all varieties, which in timo would mean a greater share for more people at reasonable prices. "Alternatively, a very much more generous ceiling should be allowed. This is particularly applicable to pip fruits. New Zealand apple growcrs, undcr existing price controls, arc sclling at a level well bclow world paritv. This sea.son carlv new season 's apples have bccn driven uuderground. Whereas normallv supplies were available between Christmas and New Year, the first consignments to wholesaiers this year were made by the I.M.D. this month. * "Let New Zealand follow - tlie example of evcry other English-speaking country in the world and l'emove the shackles of bureaucratic. control from the perishable fruit industry," concludes the statement. "The immediate result would be greater supplies of better quality at a cheaper averago • price.' '