CHAOS IN FRUIT INDUSTRY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 40, 3 March 1937, Page 5

CHAOS IN FRUIT INDUSTRY

-Prass Association.)

Marketing Should be on Better Basis MINISTER GIVES HINT

(By Telegraph-

DUNEDIN, Last Night. "From my etudy of the question I can only say that in no other fruitgrowing country in the world are marketing eonditions in such an extraordinary chaotic state as they are in New Zealand," said th© Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, during his reply to a welcome extended to him at Roxburgh to-day. "Without committing the Govern?ment in any way," the Minister continued, "I can say that som© of these days there will have to be a complete and thorough investigation into the manner in which the industry is conducted in the Dominion with a view to putting it on a good basis. We shall, I Believe, have to conceive ideals of organisation similar to those now pertaining in the dairy industry. Fruitgi'owers will have to think about this along those lines and try to organise on a co-operative basis that will do justice to the consumer and at the sam© time give the grower a chanc© of a fair return for his labour. "The Government has not yet formulated any plans in regard to the industry," Mr Sullivan concluded. "but I have just given you some of the thoughts that have passed through my mind. Out of the commission on production costs, combined with good marketing eonditions, will oom© th© evolution of a worthwhile scheme which will be of lasting benefit to the grower, consumer and country in general."