Chap. 377.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 1250 and 1251 of the Code
of Virginia. {S B 101]
| Approved March 20, 1924.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
twelve hundred and fifty of the Code of Virginia be amended and re-
enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 1250. Division of markets continued; appointment of
director and assistants.—For the purpose of. promoting the economical
handling, packing, storage, distribution and sale of agricultural prod-
ucts in this Commonwealth, and for the further purpose of assisting
producers and consumers in selling and purchasing agricultural prod-
ucts at a fair and reasonable price, the division of markets for agri-
cultural products, heretofore established within the department of
agriculture and immigration, shall be continued, and shall be admin-
istered under the supervision of the commissioner of agriculture and
immigration by a director who shall be qualified for the performance of
his duties by training and experience.

The board of agriculture and immigration, shall appoint the director
and such assistants as may be needed, and the board shall fix their com-
pensation, but shall give proper consideration to nominations by the
commissioner. |

Section 1251. Powers and duties of director.—In the administra-
tion of the said division, the said director shall exercise and discharge
the following powers and duties, under the supervision of the commis-
sioner of agriculture and immigration.

(a) He shall investigate the cost of food production and marketing
in all its phases, and in particular, shall investigate the market demand
for the products of Virginia farms, the relative location of producers with
reference to the most profitable markets for their products, the trans-
portation facilities, the most advantageous methods of packing, storing
and standardizing agricultural products, and may establish and pub-
lish official standards for capacity and marking of open or closed, filled
or unfilled receptacles for agricultural products and voluntary official
standards for the grade or classification of agricultural products. He
shall further make investigations with a view of ascertaining ‘whether
or not the agricultural products of this State are being subjected to
unfair competition in the markets of Virginia and of the country at
large, by the agricultural products or manufactured substitutes there-
for produced in other States or imported from foreign countries.

(b) The said director may assist in the organization of co-operative
societies among producers and consumers, for the purpose of promoting
and conserving the interest of producers of agricultural products in the
sale and distribution of same, and in the purchase of their necessary
supplies, and for the purpose of reducing the cost of living to con-
sumers.

(c) The said director is authorized to make and establish rules and
regulations for carrying out the purposes of this chapter, such rules and
regulations to become effective when approved by the commissioner and
board of agriculture and immigration, and enforceable by action or
proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction.