FRUIT EXPORT CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 630, 5 April 1929, Page 10

FRUIT EXPORT CONTROL

BALLOT BY GROWERS LIKELY SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD (From Our Resident Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. 1 Arising out of the Supreme Court s decision that the Fruit Control Board has failed to give proper notice of its intention to assume control, it is probable that a plebiscite of growers will b© taken on the board’s policy. The effect of the court's decision was that the board had to give a month’s notice of its intention to resume operations in control of the export of fruit from the country. During the present month growers are tree to ship through brokers if they desire to do so. Meantime the Department. of Horticulture favours the holding of a secret ballot among growers to discover the general opinion of the producers as to the course pursued by the board during the past three years. If the board decides to act it will issue ballot papers almost at once, and the department will act as returning officer. It is believed that a large majority of the growers are behind the board, and that even in the event of the board ceasing to exist 75 per cent, of the growers would still ship their j crops through the New Zealand Fruit- ! growers’ Federation, from which the board grew. However, the present moment gives an unexpected opportunity to test the feeling of producers on the point; and it is hoped that the board will take it. It is apparent that brokers, who are operating during the present month, are not receiving as much support as they expected. In some instances they have advised the board that they are acting for specified growers, whereas these growers have also written in to the board and announced that they intend to continue to ship their fruit through the usual channel. In addition, a number of growers who have opposed the board in the past have suddenly altered their attitude and announced their intention of supporting the control policy. Somewhat belatedly, the Control Board has made it clear that it is not opposed to the policy of f.o.b. sales, :-o j Idng as these are made through the board. Its objection is to New Zea- ! land fruit going forward uncontrolled I and possibly coming into competition with controlled fruit, to the detriment of both shipments.