ONIONS GOING TO WASTE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 81, 22 April 1937, Page 5

ONIONS GOING TO WASTE

Telegraph— Presa Asaooiation.)

Control Scheme a Failure, Says Mr H. S. S. Kyle EMBARGO NEEDED

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WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P. for Riccarton, stated to-day that thousands of sacks of onions are standing in paddocke ixj Canterbury — another instance of failure in the exercise of Government control over perishable products. "The control regxxlations were promised by March 1," said Mr Kyle, "but they were not gazetted till March 18. During this period of delay and uncertainty it was only natural that growers were not inclined to sell and merchants were equally disinclined to purehase." Mr Kyle said also that objeetions were raised to the regulations themselves and, finally, at a conferenee it was unanimously agreed to eliminate the grading system and substitute the f.a.q. system so long recognised in the marketing of onions. Growers were promised that the evidence before the conferenee would be subnxitted to the Government and, at the same time, it was agreed that every effort be made to induce the Government to purehase a large quantity to assist tfie alreadyglutted market. The Government 's reply was lack of cold storage and that- a South Island commiitee would be set up, which was now done. It was generally felt that if the Government had given au assurance that a total embargo would be placed on imported oixione and had left the market open to normal supply and demand growers would not have been placed in the position they are. Merchants were still disinclined to purehase onions on a scale similar to former years.