1138
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 38

slightly blemished apples may be included in this grade, provided that not more than 8 per cent. of the total number in any one package are so blemished. The individual apples of solid red and striped or partial red varieties shall carry not less than 75 per cent. and 50 per cent. respectively of good typical colour. The individual apples of yellow or green varieties shall be of good characteristic colour.

(b.) Fancy Grade.—Apples of this grade shall be of not less size than 2¼ in., sound, smooth, and clean. They shall be mature, well formed, hand-picked, true to name, and free from disease, visible bitter-pit, skin-puncture or skin broken at stem, and other defects. Slightly blemished apples may be included in this grade, provided that no individual apple shall have more than 5 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. Apples affected by spray injury may also be included in this grade, provided that no individual apple shall have more than 5 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. The individual apples of solid red and striped or partial red varieties shall carry not less than 50 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively of good typical colour. The individual apples of yellow or green varieties shall be of good characteristic colour.

(c.) C Grade.—Apples of this grade shall be of not less size than 2¼ in., moderately clean, sound, mature, true to name, free from disease and visible bitter-pit. Blemished apples may be included in this grade, provided that no individual apple shall have more than 10 per cent. of its surface affected by blemish. Apples affected by spray injury may also be included in this grade, but no individual apple shall be distorted thereby. Apples damaged by leaf-roller caterpillar to the extent of 10 per cent. of their surface may be included, provided that the keeping-qualities of the apples so damaged are not impaired.

Pears.

21. The following are the standards by which the grade of pears shall be determined :—

(a.) Extra Fancy Grade.—Pears of this grade shall be of not less size than 2 in. if pyriform in shape and 2¼ in. if round in shape. They shall be clean, sound, clear-skinned, and of bright appearance. They shall be mature, well formed, hand-picked, true to name, and free from disease, spray injury, skin-puncture or skin broken at stem, and other defects. Very slightly blemished pears may be included in this grade, provided that not more than 8 per cent. of the total number in any one package are so blemished.

(b.) Fancy Grade.—Pears of this grade shall be of not less size than 2 in. if pyriform in shape and 2¼ in. if round in shape. They shall be clean, sound, mature, well formed, hand-picked, true to name, and free from disease, skin puncture or skin broken at stem, and other defects. Slightly blemished pears may be included in this grade, provided that no individual pear shall have more than 5 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. Pears affected by spray injury may be included in this grade, provided that no individual pear shall have more than 20 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. Pears having characteristic russeting shall not be deemed to be unfit for inclusion in this grade.

(c.) C Grade.—Pears of this grade shall be sound, moderately clean, true to name, and free from disease. No individual pear shall be included in this grade which has more than 15 per cent. of its surface affected by blemish.

Packing of Graded Fruit.

22. Prior to being placed in packages the graded apples or pears shall be sized, and only fruit of as nearly as possible the same size shall be packed together in a package.

23. In sizing apples or pears in any particular size for the purposes of packing a variation of not more than ¼ in. above the size in question will be allowed, but no apple or pear shall be included in a package which is of less size than that hereinafter required to be branded on such package.

24. Apples and pears of one grade only shall be packed in each package :

Provided that apples and pears of different grades may be contained in the same package if the official grade-mark to be placed on the package as hereinafter prescribed is that of the lowest grade of apples or pears contained in such package :

Provided further that nothing in this regulation shall be construed to authorize the packing of apples and pears or of different varieties of apples or of pears together in the one package.

25. Apples and pears of Extra Fancy, Fancy, and C Grades may be wrapped, but, if wrapped, new paper having one or both surfaces glazed or some other paper approved by the Director shall be used.

Branding Packages of Graded Fruit.

26. The following particulars shall be branded in characters of not less than ¼ in. and not more than ¾ in. block type on each package of apples or pears sold under any of the official grade-marks :—

(a.) The grade of the fruit as determined by the standards hereinbefore set out.

(b.) The name of the variety contained in the package. In the event of the variety not being known by the owner the words “Variety unknown” shall be branded on the package.

(c.) The size of the fruit contained in the package, determined as hereinbefore provided.

(d.) The number of fruit contained in the package.

(e.) If the fruit has been picked from trees that have not been planted out in the orchard for at least seven years, the letters “N.K.,” signifying that the keeping-quality of such fruit is not reliable.

27. The particulars set out in the preceding regulation shall be branded on the same end of the package as the owner’s registered number hereinbefore required by these regulations to be placed on one end of packages of fruit, and no other particulars shall be placed on that end except a design or mark used in conjunction with the registered number as hereinbefore authorized.

28. (1.) The particulars required by the last two preceding regulations to be branded on packages of fruit shall accurately describe the contents of such packages, provided that a variation of not more than five per package shall be allowed in the number of fruit stated to be in such package.

(2.) If the contents of such packages are noticeably and to the detriment of a purchaser at variance with the particulars branded on such packages, the owner of such fruit shall be deemed to have committed a breach of these regulations.

General Provisions relating to Graded Fruit.

29. An Inspector may at any time examine any package of apples or pears bearing an official grade-mark for the purpose of checking the grading of the contents thereof as indicated by the grade-mark on the package, and the correctness of the other particulars branded on the packages in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 26 above.

30. If on examination the Inspector is of opinion that the contents of any package of apples or pears are of a lower grade than that indicated by the grade-mark thereon, he shall erase such grade-mark, and shall place on the package a grade-mark indicating the grade which he allots to the contents of the package.

31. If such package is one of a line of apples or pears of the same variety and grade and belonging to the same owner, the grade allotted by the Inspector to the contents of such package shall be allotted to the whole line, and the grade-mark on the remaining packages of the line shall be altered accordingly :

Provided that before altering the grade of a line of apples or pears as aforesaid the Inspector shall examine the contents of at least 5 per cent. of the packages in the line.

32. If on examination the Inspector is of opinion that the contents of any package of apples or pears are of a lower standard than that prescribed for C grade, he shall erase the grade-mark branded on the package, and no grade-mark shall be allowed thereon.

33. If the grade is altered by an Inspector as aforesaid, all work in connection with the examination of the packages of apples and pears for the purpose of determining the grade, and with the re-marking of packages, shall be done at the expense in all things of the owner of such apples and pears.

Sale of Apples and Pears under Official Grade-marks other than in Packages.

34. It shall not be lawful for the official grade-marks to be used to describe any apples or pears sold or offered for sale unless such apples or pears conform to the standards hereinbefore set out for the official grades.

35. Any apples or pears exposed in premises or places where fruit or produce is customarily sold which bear a label or other method of description in which any of the official grade-marks are employed shall be deemed to be offered for sale under the description of such official grade-mark.

PENALTIES.

36. Every person who commits a breach of any of these regulations shall be liable on conviction to a penalty not exceeding £20.

SCHEDULE.

SECTION 1.—SOLID RED VARIETIES OF APPLES.

Baldwin. Quarrenden. McIntosh Red.
Black Ben Davis. Hoover. Rokewood.
Spitzenburg. John Sharp. Tasma.
Black Prince. King David.