NO AGREEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 4

NO AGREEMENT

ON FRUIT MARKETING GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. CRITICISED BY GROWERS’ FEDERATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “It may appear to the general public from the statement of the Minister of Marketing in relation to the marketing of apples and pears that an agreement has been reached with the fruit industry,” says a statement'issued today by the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. “This is not so. Since the federation met members of the Cabinet on November 18, no discussions have taken place with the federation. The national organisation of the fruit industry has not been consulted, no/has it approved of the proposed arrangement. It appears that the Government’s own advisory committee has blessed it, but this in no way represents the opinion of the fruit industry. The industry asked the Government to pay the cost of production. This has been ignored and now we see an indefinite scheme which may give the grower less than the 6s he got last year. In the proposals there is no guarantee that the grower will get a minimum of 6s. Some must get considerably less, while pear growers will be more than amply provided for, a principle to which Mr Nash has consistently been opposed.”

Dealing with the intention to set up a committee, the federation points out that the method of nominating three growers in each district and the Government having the final say as to the appointment, was far from democratic. “Today,” it says, “we are told we are fighting for the retention of democracy. The so-called Marketing Council is weighted in favour of the Government. The Minister says the proposals are a departure from the procedure adopted during the pastfour years, but they are a definite departure from ’the Government’s avowed policy of paying to producers a return equal to their contribution to the community. The Minister says he hopes the industry will co-operate in the new proposals, but how can the Minister expect co-operation from growers when he has not even paid them the courtesy of consulting them before introducing such revolutionary proposals, which possess neither substance nor security?”