PARTIAL CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 8

PARTIAL CONTROL.

WILL IT SUCCEED ? BANANA-SELLING SCHEME. POSITION OF IMPORTERS. . «By TVl«':;r;u>li. —Own Correspondent.) DUXEDIX, this day. Whether the experiment announced by tlu- Government in connection with t lie marketing of Sam nan bananas will tie successful renin ins to be seen. This was ■'he attitude of several local traders when ;i>kcd for their opinions to-day. The opinion i< hold that the whole problem of marketing bananas in New Zealand bristles with dillieulties. Importing interests are disinclined to express any definite opinion until further information has been received. Certain importers, who contract for bananas other than Kamoan. are wondering whether they are to receive anv protection from the low selling prices proposed by the Government' during the winter months, when the demand in Duncdin is much below the available supplies. The Maui Poniare brings about 7<KMI cases of Sainoan bananas to \>w Zealand every four weeks in the summer, and there is no difficulty in selling these; in fact the price' generally reaches too hijrh a figure, thus compensating the retailer. During the winter the demand is poor and the fruit has to be sold below cost. The importers generally lose considerable sums during these months and rely on the summer trade to recover their loss. The Government is evidently aware of this position, but importers of bananas from Xiue. -Fiji. Tonga and Rarotonga are somewhat anxious to know whether they will be taken into consideration when the Government fixes the price of Samoan supplies by taking over onlv one section of the trade. The Government is encumbered with a difficult problem if all those interested in the trade are to be satisfied. The only solution appears to be a restriction of imports from sources other than Samoa as well during the winter, but this would involve considerable thought and investigation if the importers engaged in the contracts are to be safeguarded against loss.