DEARER ORANGES

4000 CASES ARRIVE AUSTRALIAN SHIPMENT REASON FOR THE INCREASE Wholesale prices for a new shipment of 4000 cases of oranges, landed in Auckland to supply the local market, Gisbornc, New Plymouth, Hamilton and Wliangarci, are 3s a case dearer than for the previous shipment, owing to a rise in the price of oranges in Australia, according to merchants' reports. Prices range up to 27s a case. Mr. A. Turner, supervisor of imported fruits for the Internal Marketing Department, said yesterday that prices for oranges had risen considerably in Australia. Mr. Turner has returned from a visit to Australia, where he has investigated the fruit market. He said that oranges which would pass tho Australian export test had increased in price recently by at least 5s for a 1-J-bushel case. In Sydney retail prices were much higher than he had expected. However, low quality fruit, which would not be allowed for export, were much cheaper in Sydney shops than might be seen in the Dominion. Oranges fit for "export were at much higher prices, fruit of 150 count to the case being priced at 3d each. The whole of the Dominion's present supplies of oranges were Australian, said Mr. Turner, and the cost of the fruit which had arrived in Auckland would be increased by 3s a case without taking into'account the increase in freight charges, owing to war conditions. This would also apply to all future shipments. High prices for oranges could therefore be ..expected until Jamaican became available toward the end of November.