I.—loa.

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that these attempts eliel not meet the requirements of the industry ; at any rate, they proved unsuccessful ; some carried on, but others went out altogether. The fruitgrowers' federation for quite a long time was open to a gooel deal of criticism. lam glad to say to-day it is running on very much beittcr lines. Here again the federation has no powers really. It is rather a trading concern, and as such, has been of great assistance: to growers in the overseas marketing of their fruit. So far as the local marketing of fruit is concerned, I am quite sure that with an efficient anel properly designed organization very great improvements ceiulel be: brought about, and those improvements weiulel naturally react to the benefit of the grower, and to the benefit of the, consumer also. There is another important point in connection with that: with bettor selling organization and with the lessening of costs between the grower and the; consumer, which l believe could be brought about, the lower retail price would greatly increase: the consumption of apples in New Zealand itself, and that would be of very great advantage to the greiwers and to the community as a whole. I have gone very carefully into the: wheile: question of how best to meet the requirements of the inelustry in the way of better organization, anel it seems to me that the provisions contained in this Bill would go a long way towards meeting requirements. I realise, as everybody must realise, that if the Bill became law a very great deal weiulel depend upon the personality of the individuals composing the: Export Board, or Leical Boards, as the case may be ; and one' feels that the growers themselves weiuld have that realization also, and would take care to put the right seirt eif men on their Boards. 1 might, mention also —1 am not sure; whether it has been brought out in the' evidence before —that at the fruitgrowers' conference which was held in June last—the Dominion conference of fruitgrowers—a synopsis of what was proposed to be put in this Bill was submitted to the conference and fully discussed, and I understand that, with the exception of the Otago delegates, who did not vote either way, it was unanimously approved. I understand the Otago delegates took exception—or rather, they wished a, provision to be made to prevent what was termed " Dominion pooling." They also wanted a limit to be put on the amount of the levy. This last was put in the Bill. I think 1 need not take up the; time eif the Committee further, seeing the whole question has been very fully geine; into by Mr. Capmbell from a departmental standpoint. 1. Mr. Hudson] You say the peisition in regard to the: inelustry generally is better neiw than it was ? —I said that the fruitgrowers' feelcration was running on better lines than previously. 2. Can you see any way of getting over the difficulty of private trading, by a clause: in the: Bill allowing men with business connections now to continue private trading ?—lt would be very difficult to word a clause to meet the position exactly as one woulel have it in one's mind. 3. You think that is a matter that would have, to be left absolutely in the hands eif the: Beiarel to use its own discrimination ? —Yes, I am afraid that weiulel have to be the: case. 4. Is there any way of providing for permits being allowed to certain individuals to continue their present business, if such business were seen to be neit against the interests eif the industry?— You would simply bo putting into the Bill a power which would already be in the hands of tho Board. The Beiarel. could exercise complete control or limited, control, and the Bill allows for that. 5. M.r. Forbes] Is one of the reasons why you welcome, this Bill because: it would take the industry out of the Department's hands : is that why the Department is backing it ?—I am not, wanting to shirk any responsibilities. 6. I mean financially. What did the Government do in connection with manures a while' ago ? —They provided about £6,000 by way of loan to assist growers in the Nelson Province to buy manures. 7. Have you been paid ? —Not yet. Hon. Mr. Nosworthy : It was on tho deferred-payment system. 8. Mr. Forbes] Are they keeping up their payments —aro they able to ? —Some are. 9. From what we can gather from, the evidence you will have: to write off a considerable amount ? — We are always hopeful. 10. You want to place the industry in a stronger peisition than it is in at present in regarel to the Government and its assistance ? —I want to place the inelustry in a position to be more self-supporting in e;arrying out, its general business, and so that any assistance the Government gives can be utilized to even better advantage than at present. 11. You think the guarantee has been of considerable assistane:e tei them ? —Undoubtedly. 12. You think it will be continued ? —I hope it will not be necessary to continue it for a long time tei come. Hon. Mr. Nosworthy : That is a matter of policy. 13. Mr. Forbes] In connection with the reception of the Bill in Otago aid Canterbury, you mentioned it was agreed to —the synopsis was sent down anel there was no very strong oppeisition to it. It was tliscussed pretty freely, but the resolution supporting it was carried, I believe, without any eiissentient voices, except that the Otago representatives eliel not vote at all. Do yeiu gather from the evidence submitted to the Committee that the position has altered in both those places since then ? — it seems tei have done so. 14. As far as the local marketing is concerned in Otago and Canterbury, do you think the: same: dissatisfaction exists among growers there as in Nelson ? The market is in a state of chaos : does that apply in Otago and Canterbury ?—I have not heard eif the: same thing happening in Otago and Canterbury, but naturally the Otago and Canterbury growers aro in a better position to market their fruit than the Nelson growers, seeing they have no sea carriage necessary before they can get it to the market. 15. Do you not think that points to the fact that they lose the direct control by having to send it across the water, and they cannot follow as easily as the other growers ? Do you feel that is why the