MARKETING INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1930, Page 2

MARKETING INQUIRY

RETAILING SMALL LOT’S CONDEMNED. •9 WELLINGTON, August 21. - Further-evidence on the marketing of fruit and vegetables was heard today by the Industries and : Commerce Committee of the House. Mr Kinnaird, representing the Central Otago Fruit-growers’ Association was of the opinion that the basis of standardisation and the ultimate stabilisation of the industry lay in the elimination 'of small fruit, and lie gave the' sizes that had proved in Otago to be economic from the point of view of the grower, the retailer and th© consumer. He emphasised the success of co-operation in Otago, and it was a recommendation from the growers tliere that, every assistance should be given >• by the Government towards the establishment elsewhere Of co-operative concerns owned entirely by growers.

Evidence was given by Mr Thomas Eldridge on behalf of the Christ, church Retailers’ Association. Hie asked that the .Government should regulate of fruit and so ensure that sufficient fruit of all grades should be retained for local consumption. They claimed -' that too much first grade fruit was going out of the Dominion. Reform in the selection and marketing both of;fruit and vegetables was advocated, and also repacking of all Island oranges showing more than 10 per cent waste. An inquiry should be held by the Government into the banana trade as it was considered that the landed cost was too high. Dr. Makgill, consulting medical officer of the Department of Health, who ■is also an orchardist, gave evidence that he thought that there was a small profit in an orchard, although his -own did not show one. He said that'fruit could be bought in case lots at auction at fairly reasonable prices, but in small lots from, shops it was another story. He condemned the present method of retailing in small lots. in\ shops in the main streets, where rentals were hicrh and overhead expenses', heavy. Neither the- grower nor the merchant, nor the retailer benefited. It was possible to organise >a system by which ten, twenty and forty pound lots of fruit could ‘be delivered at consumers’ homes at a price in the vicinity of that now obtaining in the auction rooms. He did not favour compulsory grading. 'lf a grading system were brought in he thought that the public would seek graded fruit, and ungraded fruit would bring a smaller price.