FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 113 



selling goods under false pretenses, but had it been there — do you sup- 

 pose for a moment he would pack such stuff for first class fruit? 

 Hardly. 



What of the man that puts up fruit in a ''snide" package? He may 

 be the gainer for a short time, but sooner or later his plan is discovered 

 — and then — what? He gets less for his package, (according to its 

 size) and his empty package costs him just as much as he would pay for 

 a standard package; his expense of picking, freight, and cartage, are 

 just the same as for the standard articfe, so in the end he is a loser. 

 But this style of business is being done all over Michigan today. I could 

 cite many instances of the losses we suffer every year through the use 

 of packages being reduced in capacity, but does the Package Manu- 

 facturer care? Of course he is not interested, he charges just as much 

 for a six pound as for an eight pound grape basket — you pay your 

 money and take your choice. For a time you may even be able to sell 

 your six pound basket for as much as I get for my eight pound basket 

 — but that can only be for a short time — and then your price will be 

 cut, and you will complain of the poor market. 



I would hail with delight the day that would see all fruits and 

 vegetables sell just as grain, meat and dairy products — that is, hy 

 iveight; it is the only fair proposition to both grower and consumer. 



There should be a federal law establishing a standard of measure for 

 the United States, so that a barrel, bushel, peck, or quart would be the 

 same in New York as in California; I once heard a speaker in Wiscon- 

 sin declare that he found seven different sizes of berry boxes in his 

 home market, and they Avere selling for practically the same price, 

 excepting in the case of a fancy article. 



In my opinion, it is time for us to wake up and see if legislation can 

 not help us to solve the problems that confront us. In Idaho, if a man 

 packs any fruit with "scale" on it for sale, his fruit is confiscated, and 

 some of the states have laws compelling the inspection of fruit the same 

 as of dairy i)roducts. 



Canada has a law known as the Mark's Law that is a fine thing, and 

 I should like to see the same law^ enforced in the United States. 



I hoi)e the state society will take some action on this matter at this 

 time, as all must realize that no question is more vital to us today, than 

 the honest packing and successful marketing of our fruits. 



DISCUSSION. 



A Member — What was the legislation that was attempted at the last 

 sitting of the legislature? 



Mr. Smythe — -The law in brief contemplated compelling every grower 

 to put his name on his package, designating the size of the type to be 

 used to be one-half inch long, where the fruit was packed, by whom 

 packed, etc. Also that 85 per cent of the fruit should come up to the 

 quality designated. This bill passed both the House of Representatives 

 and the Senate, but when it came to ihe (xovernor he cut its head off. Be- 

 fore doing so he telephoned me asking me Avhat I had to say for it, as 

 he knew it came from me through our representative. I asked him what 

 he wanted me to say? and then he said lie did not think he could sign it. 

 [ asked him his objection, and he replied, "'The canning factory men are 

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