§ 71. Mr. du Cannasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the apples and pears publicity scheme is inadmissible under the Marketing Acts; what advice he has received to this effect: if he is aware that this fact is of substantial concern to the trade; and what steps he will take to allow the scheme to continue as planned.
§ Mr. John HareYes; I am advised that the draft Apple and Pear Publicity Scheme of which a copy was sent to my Department by the National Farmers' Union last year is not a Scheme for regulating the marketing of an agricultural product, and would not therefore comply with the requirements of the Agricultural Marketing Acts. I have so informed the National Farmers' Union, although it is of course entitled to challenge this legal interpretation in the courts.
11WI regret the serious disappointment which I know this has been to the promoters. But, as I have explained, new legislation would be required to enable the Scheme as drafted to be considered and I can see no possibility of such legislation at present. The unions know that I would consider sympathetically any Scheme within the Acts that was put before me.