H.—44,

22

" (5) Whether the costs of baking and distribution of bread to consumers are reasonable or otherwise. " The Committee unanimously recommends that, in view of the disparity in the cost of baking and distribution of bread in various centres, the Department of Industries and Commerce be instructed to investigate the cost of baking and distribution of bread." The investigations referred to will shortly form the subjects of special reports to the Hon. the Minister of Industries and Commerce. Inquiry into Marketing of Fruit and Vegetables. A request for an inquiry into the present methods of marketing fruit and vegetables was brought before the House of Representatives in October, 1929, by a petition signed by 156 Wellington fruitretailers. The petition, inter alia, alleged that— (1) The present system of marketing fruit and vegetables was unsatisfactory, and imposed unfair conditions on retailers and consumers. (2) Fruit and vegetables are placed on the market packed and exhibited in such a manner as to mislead the purchaser. (3) Owing to methods of stacking and selling in sales-rooms, reasonable inspection of fruit offered is not possible. (4) Present conditions impose loss on retailers and increase price to public. The petition urged an investigation into the methods employed in Wellington, and expressed the opinion that as the result of the investigation steps would be taken to introduce long-overdue reform. The committee of inquiry suggested by the petitioners was to comprise representatives of growers, fruit-merchants, retailers, and officers of the Department of Industries and Commerce and Agriculture, or some other competent body. The petition was referred by Parliament to the Industries and Commerce Committee for report. A number of retailers appeared before the Committee in support of the petition, and as the result the Committee reported to the House on the 7th November, 1929, as under : " That in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with the suggestion that the inquiry should cover the whole Dominion." The Minister in charge of the Department considered that the investigation could be effectively carried out by departmental officers, and accordingly issued instructions for the inquiry to proceed. For the guidance of the officers and in order to cover as wide a field as possible, the following matters were to receive special consideration :— (1) Methods of packing and grading. (2) Handling and transport to markets. (3) Sources of supply of cases. (4) Cool-storage facilities. (5) Sales methods and selling organizations. (6) Utilization of surplus fruit. (7) Importations. It was also suggested that growers, retailers, fruit-merchants, and other organizations interested in the marketing of fruit should be given an opportunity of placing the views of their organizations before the Department. Objections were raised to the inquiry being undertaken by Departmental officers by a deputation of fruit-retailers who waited upon the Hon. G. W. Forbes, acting for the Prime Minister, on the 21st March last. The deputation urged the holding of a public inquiry in place of the Departmental one proposed. The Hon. G. W. Forbes replied that the Parliamentary Committee of Industries and Commerce, in his opinion, should conduct the inquiry, and arrangements to that end are now being made. Gas Regulations. Eighteen gas undertakings in the Dominion are working under the Board of Trade Gas Regulations, which provide safeguards in regard to heating-value, purity, pressure, price, and measurement. The work of the Gas Examiners and Inspectors of Meters has been carried out efficiently during the period under review. The official relations with the gas companies and municipal undertakings have been most satisfactory, and the closest co-operation in surmounting difficulties affecting the industry is maintained. During April of this year Mr. R. W. Holmes, who was a Gas Referee under the regulations for four years, resigned. The Hon. the Minister of Industries and Commerce conveyed to Mr. Holmes his appreciation of the valuable services rendered. Mr. W. Donovan, M.Sc., F.1.C., succeeded Dr. Maclaurin as Chief Gas Examiner, whose services have been retained in the capacity of a Gas Referee. Commercial Trusts Act. Several complaints have been made to the Department during the year that the provisions of the Commercial Trusts Act were being infringed, and in each case these have been followed by full investigation into the circumstances of the alleged breaches. These complaints relate principally to alleged refusals to supply, and the fixation of prices of commodities covered by the Schedule to the Act. In no instance, however, were the facts such as to justify legal action being taken.