FRUIT CONTROL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9850, 31 October 1924, Page 5

FRUIT CONTROL

PROTEST FROM OTAGO GROWERS. A SATISFACTORY COMPROMISE. BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. The Minister of Agriculture then moved that the House go into committee on the Fruit Control Bill. In. doing so he said the main feature of the Bill is the provision for the appointment of a Fruit-Export Control Board and tho control of fruit intended for export, also for the appointment of overseas agents. Provision is also made for the control of fruit for local consumption. This part of the Act is not to be. operative in any provincial district until brought into force by proclamation, and polls are to he taken on the proposal to bring this part of the Act into operation. The Bill'deals also with the constitution and powers of Local Control Boards... There is provision foi r a levy on fruit intended for export andron all fruit intended for sale or consumption in New Zealand. The levy is to he prescribed by regulation and is not to exceed 3d a case.

Mr Sidey wanted to know why the Government insisted on dragging Otago into the operation of the Bill when Otago did not desire to be brought under it. All the Otago fruitgrowers wanted was to be left to manage their own affairs. Mr Witty admitted that the Bill was improved Iry the committee, but thought there was room for further improvement, particularly in the matter of qualification for a vote in the election of the Control Board.

Mr Isitt suggested that the several members who were objecting to portions of the Bill should meet the Minister in amicable conference, and be bad no doubt that an arrangement could be arrived at which would facilitate the passage of the Bill. Mr Hawken gave the Bill general support.

The Hon W. Norsworthv announced that during the dinner adjournment, ho had met objecting members to the Fruit Control Bill, and they came to a mutual agreement that the Bill should go„on as it is but, as soon as tho Bill became law and Dominion control was carried, any province would have the right to vote itself out of the Act, if 70 per cent, of the crchardiscs in that province so desired. If, on the other hand, 60 per cent, of the orchardists in any district- declared at the poll that they desired to have local control, their wishes would bo given effect to. If the Bill was passed and experience proved . that amendments were required, he would be pleased to amend it next session to make the measure work more smoothly.

Mr Witty objected that the arrangements was that local control was to take effect on petition not on poll, but tho Minister explained that lie had since been advised that a poll was considered a more satisfactory method. He appealed to members to give the measure a trial. The Hon. W. D. Stewart said Otago’s objections were largely met by the companies. Bools would network satisfactorily if an attempt was made to control the price of the woilri s markets. The functions of a pool was to see that produce was provided with proper transport, to control grading and regular supplies. The efforts of the .committee and of the conference led him to believe it was possible to meet all reasonable objections. Air Wilford said he believed a good deal of opposition to the Bill was due to misapprehension and it would be found that mest of their objections were groundless. He pointed out the difficulties experienced in shipping fruit, but contended that a board would be able to make better terms with the big shipping companies than any individual shipper could.

Mr Dickson (Chalmers) said the conference would do no good. Its result would simply prove to be Dead Sea fruit.

Mr Langstone said that this was the ago of combinations in industry and this Bill would result in the elimination of waste. With better organisation the fruit industry ..could he so regulated that all communities could receive ample and constant supplies. Mr Holland said the compromise arrived at was a most sensible thing to do. It did not give anybody everything they desired, but it would remove tlie deadlock. The Bill then went into committee. The Minister resisted all amendments, except those necessary to carry out the compromise arrived at. Those were made and the Bill was reported without amendments, read a third time and passed.—P.A.