§ 50. Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture what alterations he is proposing to make in the methods of marketing agricultural produce grown in this country.
Mr. T. WilliamsVoluntary schemes for improving the grading and packing of agricultural produce are being developed in consultation with producers and the trade interests concerned. In addition the Farmers' Unions have recently promoted marketing schemes for wool and for tomatoes and cucumbers under the Agricultural Marketing Acts and have 185W others in preparation, all of which are designed to secure much needed improvements in marketing methods and arrangements.
§ 51. Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will review the marketing boards for agricultural produce at present in existence with the view to increasing the representation of the consumer interest on such boards and thereby promoting a greater drive for lower prices and better quality.
Mr. T. WilliamsThe membership of agricultural marketing boards was revised by the Agricultural Marketing Act of last year and I have no reason to suppose that the boards in their new form with the inclusion of members appointed by myself will not have close regard to the needs of consumers and actively promote efficiency and economy in production and marketing.