BANANA CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 101, 2 May 1938, Page 8

BANANA CONTROL.

SHIPMENT ARRIVES. END OF MISUNDERSTANDING. Any repetition of the misunderstanding which arose when the Matna last arrived at Auckland with a shipment of bananas on consignment to the New Zealand Government, was avoided when the Aorangi discharged to-day.

Maximum wholeeale prices were fixed by the Government supervisor of banana marketing at 20/ a case for firsts and 18/6 for seconds.

When the Government first fixed maximum rates on the arrival of the last shipment, the fruit was offered at the ship's side at these prices. A number of retailers, not understanding that these net prices at the wharf would be maxima at the markets, bought a large quantity owing to the prevalent shortage. The bananas sold below the maximum rates on the markets, and those who had bought at the wharf found they had lost on the deal. To-day there were few buyers when the fruit was offered on the wharf at the maximum schedule.

The prices fixed to-day were higher than those fixed on the arrival of the last shipment, when firets were 17/, seconds 10/, and thirds 14/. The maximum for thirds was still to be settled at a late hour to-day.

The shipment, comprising 2COO cases, was forwarded from Fiji. On Wednesday a bigger consignment from Tonga and the other Cook Islands ie due to arrive by the Matua.