IMPERIAL FRUIT CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1926, Page 3

IMPERIAL FRUIT CONFERENCE.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] FURTHER DETAILS. LONDON, June 9. The Fruit Committee’s report says it .considers that the representation of the Empire Producers’ organisations in tho United Kingdom, as being pivotal for the whole scheme of Empire marketing. The organisation of the overseas producers’ interests in the United Kingdom, should be watched by an efficient agent of his organisation, who should also keep the producers informed of the requirements of the market. Tho report points out that tho system of identification of origin carried with it a liability to loss as well as a gain of goodwill.

The Committee concludes: Under the present system the average cost of distributing imported fresh fruit within the United Kingdom about equals the whole cost of the growing, carrying, and handling of it, up to and including, the primary sale in the United Kingdom. This matter should be dealt with by the Food Council. .It is of great importance to the United Kingdom consumer and Hie overseas producer that there should be a mobilisation of the consumers. We must depend on providing such indications of origin that the consumer may have means of exercising a voluntary preference, and on educative publicity leading him to see that it is his own business interest apart from all sentiment to buy from bis own best customers.

In regard to research, the report stresses the need for economic, as well as scientific, investigation, and says: “ There are at present difficulties in the way of financing the transport of fruit, owing to possible deterioration during transit and storage. If necessary, we .should ascertain, and reduce, these risks, which must be covered by insurance before tile financing of fruit can be carried on as easily as the financing of less perishable commodities.

The Executive Commission which, it is proposed, should be established, will organise ami operate a campaign of educative publicity. It seems desirable (bat the Commission should have the advantage ol advice of sub-committees organised on a commodity basis. Though the actual publicity will doubtless lie supervised by a committee consisting partly of experienced men, tile commission will provide an intelligence service in order to obtain the best information regarding forthcoming supplies as the basis of publicity, and will promptly inform the Empire producers in regard to competing supplies. It will undertake tho direction, co-ordina-tion and assistance of research at home and overseas, acting through a research committee in order to ensure the due influence of scientific experts, and to avoid the overlapping of experts’ efforts, it will carry out economic. as well as scientific research by the collection of data In regard to the deterioration of fruit in transit, and similar problems. The commission will include the interests of the Home producer as far as its functions are applicable to his case. If it is decided that the Imperial Economic Committee shall continue to exist for the purpose of advising the Empire Governments, it will ho necessary to consider the relations of the Commission towards the Committee, but tbo Commission might be charged with the duty of experimenting on behalf of the Committee in ease where larger' schemes are deferred pending the results of preliminary action.

The report emphasises that organisation alone will not suffice to combat tlic advantage conferred on the United States by its great protected borne market. Tt. strongly supports the closer organisation of the fruit growers, and insists upon the grading and packing standards being strictly maintained at the point of export, recommending the Governments to assist financially and otherwise to that end.