324 



Grading and Packing of Fruit. 



[July, 



work, for it may be necessary in most of the large marketing 

 centres to set up tribunals of arbitration, the constitution of 

 which would include representatives of the Growers', Whole- 

 salers' and Eetailers' Associations. These tribunals would act 

 in their respective markets, and give decisions as to the classifi- 

 cation of packages of fruit wrongly described. Settlement on 

 the decisions would follow. An essential part of a scheme must 

 give due consideration to finance ; nor is it shown to what extent 

 the Growers' Association are financially responsible for the 

 packing of fruit bearing their authorised labels.* 



A scheme of this nature instituted solely by the growers can 

 only succeed if it has the support of the wholesaler and the 

 retailer, and in the past they have turned all the blame for the 

 present unsatisfactory marketing on to the shoulders of the 

 grower. There are many w^ays in which the salesmen can 

 render assistance. It has been stated that many growers have 

 in the past adopted proper methods of grading and packing, 

 but the market returns did not show any extra value for the 

 goods, and as they had previously expended money in extra 

 labour charges they discontinued the practice. It is now the 

 duty of salesmen to look out for labelled packages, and in 

 selHng them to see that some extra price is obtained for the 

 ■extra attention given. It should be their duty to co-operate 

 with the growers and the Growers' Association in working the 

 scheme and to facihtate the settling of complaints. At present 

 each small consignment has to be dealt with separately by 

 B salesman, much w^aste of time is caused in the markets, 

 and his charges for labour are heavy. Under the new scheme, 

 if he is dealing with standard packages, the consignments may 

 be bulked together, and sold as per sample. This will lead to 

 reduced space and labour costs, a portion of which may be 

 reflected in the charges returned to the grower. The salesman 

 and the retailer can co-operate to encourage the more extended 

 use of fruit, especially home-grown fruit. 



Before this scheme can be launched and put into practice 

 it w^ould be necessary for decisions to be made in many 

 m.atters of detail — some trivial and some important. None, 

 however, w-ill be more difficult or more controversial than the 

 question of the " package." Those in use to-day have been 

 selected either because of cheapness, usefulness for preserving 

 ^he freshness of fruit, or ease in handling. 



A grower in this country supplying goods direct to the retail 

 shops naturally finds it most convenient to use a package w^hich 



these are details which can be settled after further experience has 

 })een gained. 



