CONTROL EXTENDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 77, 1 April 1938, Page 3

CONTROL EXTENDS.

STATE IN BUSINESS. FRUIT AND BUTTER TRADES. REGULATIONS OPERATE A further step in the extension of Government control of trade in New Zealand was made to-day. The fruit import business and the wholesale distribution of butter are both affected by new regulations which come into force as from April 1. The importation of bananas is to be taken out of the hands of private mer- j chants and operated from Wellington bv the Internal Marketing Department, I Though the regulations formally provide for the State to take over as from today. the service will really be inaugurated on Monday. The Niagara will then arrive with the first shipment of Government bananas. 1 lie last consignment of bananas imported by private merchants arrived about a fortnight ago by the Matua. firms which have been in the business a« long as 50 years are out as far a« making arrangements is concerned, and from now on will act as commission agent.s for the Government. Mr. A. Turner, of the Auckland firm of Turners and Growers. Limited. h*s been appointed supervisor of banana distribution in the Internal Marketing Department. Both he and Mr. F. R. Picot. director of marketing, will be in Auckland when the shipment of bananas arri\es on Monday. according to information received by the "Star" from the department. The Government scheme for controlling tlie local butter market is advanced further by resnlations restricting as from to-day the number of brands to be used. Retailors' brands are eliminated: wholesalers and factories are allowed one brand each. This is intended to prevent wholesalers and others "creatiug their own competition" by putting out a multiplicity of brands. This step is part of a scheme which has been in operation since the Xew \ear. when wholesale selling margins w-ere fixed allowing distributors Id per lb to cover their costs. Since then butter box restrictions have been introduced. binding in a minimum order of JSlb to be supplied by wholesalers. The State butter-patting service has also bcirtin to operate. \ Since the l>eginning of fhe rear two firms have not had their' licenses renewed as they could not complv with the new regulations and several others j have been bought out or have closed down because they could not continue I on the margin fixed to cover their costs.