10 Dec, 1918.] Packing and Grading of Fruit. 741 



STANDARDIZED PACKING AND GRADING OF FRUIT. 



By Ernest Meeking, Senior Fruit Inspector. 

 (Continued from Page 307.) 



FKUIT CASES ACT. 



The Fruit Cases Act, whicli came into force in 1906, was the second 

 measure passed for the exclusive benefit of the fruit industry in this 

 State, Its chief purpose was to establish standard sizes for cases, in order 

 that the then prevalent practice of selling fruits in packages of varying 

 dimensions might be abolished, and a basis of value between seller and 

 purchaser established. The imperial bushel capacity, viz., 2,218 cubic 

 inches, was taken as a basis, and a schedule of sizes for cases was com- 

 piled. These sizes were fixed at half-bushel, one-bushel, and two-bushel 

 capacities. 



Fruit Cases Act has Proved Beneficial. 

 Much opposition to the introduction of the Act was shown by 

 orchardists. It was contended that many of the growers would be put to 

 great loss in getting rid of their old stocks of cases ; that the compulsory 

 branding of cases with the maker's name and guarantee would consider- 

 ably add to the cost of cases, and the grower be thereby penalized; that 

 the enforcement of the Act would constitute a restriction of trade. 

 These are only some of the objections raised, and so persistent was the 

 opposition, which, by the way, consisted of a small but very energetic 

 minority, that the application of the Act was delayed for eighteen 

 months after it was passed. Finally, however, it came into full opera- 

 tion, and has remained so ever since — some ten or eleven years. None of 

 the gloomy predictions regarding its baneful effects on the industry has 

 been fulfilled. On the contrary, the benefits derived have become so 

 obvious that no one would think of advocating a reversion to the old 

 order. 



Fruit Cases Act does not Provide a Complete Standard. 

 Although the Fruit Cases Act has proved of inestimable benefit to the 

 community by insisting that certain fruits shall be sold only in standard- 

 sized packages, yet it has failed to provide a complete basis of value be- 

 tween the seller and the purchaser. It insures only that, provided the 

 package is properly filled, a purchaser receives a bushel (a capacity 

 bushel, it must be remembered) of fruit for his money, but with no 

 guarantee as to the quality of such fruit. As a matter of fact, the utility 

 of the capacity standard as giving the best basis of value is becoming 

 discredited amongst the more advanced sections of the industry. The 

 reason for this attitude will be more fully stated later. 



Victoria the First State to Introduce Legislation Governing 



Sizes of Cases. 

 Victoria was the first Australian State to introduce a Fruit Cases 

 Act, and shortly after the other States fell into line. Unfortunately, 

 however, some of the sizes adopted by the other States differed from the 

 sizes specified in the Victorian Act, or, rather, in some instances their 

 legislation went further, and provided for cases of dimensions which 

 were not included in our Act. In l^ew South Wales and Queensland 



