APPLE AND PEAR GROWING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 87, 29 April 1937, Page 5

APPLE AND PEAR GROWING

Press Assooiation.).

Range oi Standards Suggested INSPECTION OF FRUIT:

(By Teleerzph— .

WELLINGTON, This Day. * In the report of the Fruit Marketing Committee the following recommendations are of particular intefest to growers in Hawke's Bay engaged in the production of apples, peats and stone fruits. — That compulsory standardisation zelative to the grading and packing of apples and pears be introduced, and that the Department of Agriculture be requested to draft the necessary regulations making provision for : • (a) A suitable range of standards in respect of both apples and peats. (b) Prohiibiting the sale other than to fruit prescrving or other fruit by-product works of all fruit whieh does not coaform to . tho provisions Of ihe tninimum

standard set. (c) Prohibiting the retail sale of apples and pears other than in - accordance with the offidal standard requirements. (d) The introduction of a strict^ and adequate system of fruit inspection. That the Government ihrough the Bureau of Industry alford flnancial assistance by way of loan to fruit byproduct undertaking designed to utilise low grade apples and pears in circumstances( where such projects offer a reasonable chance of success. the Stdnfe-Fruit iwiustfy That the marketing authori%- take up with the Railway Department tbe question of; (a) Provision of suitable fruit wagons j (b) improved stotrsge of fruit 5 (c) improved railway connections in the interests of a more rapid dispatch cff fruit to northern marketa. That the marketing authority go into the question of the sale of fruit wholesale with ihe Dunedin fruit brokers with a view to effectjng improvements in wholesale selling conditions and practices. That ihe marketing authority consider tho practicability of wholesale price-fixation, eijbher minimum or niuximum, and also consider any other means calculated to advauce ihe interests of tho growers and oonsumers and report accordingly to the Marketing Department. That the stone-fruit industry of Otago be brought under the control Of the Primaiy Products Marketing Department, and that the Primafy Products Marketing Act be amended ic and where necessary to give effect to this. That an Otago stone-fruit markeh ing authority he established in Otago to direct and control the marketing oi Otago stone-fruits. That the Government, through the Bureau of Industry, finance the exeo tion and equipment of cool sto.-es of 12,000 and 16,000 case -oapacity at • Alexandra and Roxburgh respectively. The Small-Fruits Industry. That, failing voluntafy organisation of the Motueka smaU-fruit growers, action be taken under section 26 of the Board of Trade Act to coffipel the growers oither to join the existing Nelson Small-fruit Growers' Assooiation, Ltd., or to form a sepatat© organisation. That in order to assist the organisation in its inltial Stages, tho Government subsidise the revenue of the organisation on a pound for pound basis during the first two years of its existence, the maximum subsidy payable in any one year not to exoeed £100. A comprehensive summary of the committee 's report appears on page 12.