(a) To act as intermediary between the Secretary and any grower, handler or processor;

(b) To keep minutes, books, and records which will reflect clearly all of the acts and transactions. The minutes, books, and records shall be subject at any time to examination by the Secretary or by such person as may be designated by the Secretary;

(c) To investigate, from time to time, and to assemble data on the growing, harvesting, shipping, and marketing conditions relative to pears, and to furnish to the Secretary such available information as may be requested;

(d) To perform such duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by the Secretary in connection with the administration of section 32 of the Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes, Public Act No. 320, 74th Congress, approved August 24, 1935 (49 Stat. 774), as amended;

(e) To cause the books to be audited by one or more competent accountants at the end of each fiscal year and at such other times as the Fresh Pear Committee or the Processed Pear Committee may deem necessary or as the Secretary may request, and to file with the Secretary copies of any and all audit reports made;

(f) To appoint such employees agents, and representatives as it may deem necessary, and to determine the compensation and define the duties of each;

(g) To give the Secretary, or the designated agent of the Secretary, the same notice of meetings as is given to the members of the Fresh Pear Committee or the Processed Pear Committee;

(h) To select a chairman of the Fresh Pear Committee or the Processed Pear Committee and, from time to time, such other officers as it may deem advisable and to define the duties of each; and

(i) To submit to the Secretary as soon as practicable after the beginning of each fiscal period, a budget for such fiscal year, including a report in explanation of the items appearing therein and a recommendation as to the rate of assessment for such period.