BANANA "RING."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 7

BANANA "RING."

ALLEGED AUCKLAND POSITION DENIAL BY IMPORTERS. A strenuous denial is made by the Auckland Fruit Importers' Association to the allegations reported to have been made in evidence before the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives by the secretary of the Cook Islands Department, Mr. S. -J. Smith, that the importation of bananas from Fiji and Samoa was controlled by a ring in Auckland. Embodying this protest, a telegram was sent yesterday by the association to the acting-Prime Minister, Hon. E. A. Ransom, and to the chairman of the Industries and Commerce Committee, Mr. G. C. Moons, M.P., "that the Auckland Fruit Importers' Association strongly protests against the statement reported in to-day T s "Star," made by Mr Smith, Secretary of the Cook Islands Department, before" the Industries and Commerce Fruit Inquiry Committee yesterday, that a fruit 'ring , easts m Auckland and controls the importation and sales of bananas. Such a statement is absolutely contrary to fact. _ There is more competition among fruit-import-ing firms in Auckland than is usual in most cities."' The allegations referred to were made in the following passage from the report: — Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Independent, GreT Lynn): Can you say if there is a "ring" in the handling of bananas in New Zealand? Mr. Smith: The Auckland people have a monopoly of the Fiji and Samoan bananas, but not of the Niue bananas. Mr. Fletcher: Has this monopoly the vicious effect of a '"ring?" Mr. Smith: I would say so-—yes.