MARKETING FRUIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 207, 27 May 1920, Page 4

MARKETING FRUIT

"HIGH PRICES-MEAGRE PROFIT.", The need for better distribution of fruit throughout New Zealand was stressed by the Hon. W, <>. Minister of Agriculture, m an addiess before.the conference of the Fraitaw-, crs' Federation yesterday. The Minis-, ler said it was generally recognised that, despite the heavy crops »»*»»*■ «*' major portion of the people ot tho Dominion consumed infinitely less fimt. than they would do were they able readily to procure supplies at a reason-, able price. It must, then, strike, gnffl., ere that there must bo something ro-, quiring marked improvement in tn«. present fruit distribution system which allowed this state of affairs to exist, and further, that a system which demanded high prices whilst returning to tho producer a- meagre profit (in soma case/no prefit at all) should not be tolerated any longer tW dowinded. A eolation of. the diftcnltj, would, he hoped, be arrived at by the conference. Despite improvements .effected in the past, still better organwaioi was requfred, having to its object the .ready- disposal of the fruit crop ail reasonable prices to grower and confer aliket . The Minuter offered t £ pergonal services of officers ot tUe JJeKnit to assist producers m establishing such an organisation ehould they ''fhe 0 subject was also referred to by the Director-General of Agriculture (Dr. C J. Rcakcs) at « later stago m the in Dr. e Reakes said that the fruit' indu* trv had grown considerably, and no Hped that eventually it would become one of the mainstays of ho Dominion. This year, owing to the big surplus of supplies, the growers had had an, excellent object lesson with regard to maiUetin" fruit within tho Dominion. Growers wuld realise that (hero was penly of room for improvement in the wethoiW adopted. Tt might be possible to have a contonce. between selected roprcseo, hitives of the industry and tho Departmental officers and himself, the oft-' ect being to • evolve a better gysicnv foferring to the "black spot" disease. Dr. Reakcs stated that the Departmental regulations on tho matter had been framed with tho object of conserving for local consumption as much as pes-; eiblo fruit which, although affected, *«» quite edible.