STATE PURCHASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 198, 23 August 1939, Page 13

STATE PURCHASE.

LOCAL ONION STOCKS. CONTROL OF SUPPLIES. POSITION IN AUCKLAND. As a result of the purchase by the Internal Marketing Division of the whole of the remaining stocks of Pukekohe onions, local produced supplies are no longer available for Auckland merchants. This position was disclosed to-day by city produce merchants.

"The Auckland market will be supplied by imported onions for the next few months until the new season's local crop is ready," said Mr. P.. H. Stewart, president of the Auckland Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants' Association, this morning. He added that the condition of the onions now being distributed by merchants to retailers was excellent, ail supplier being repacked in the stores before delivery. The merchants were working ir. close co-operation with the Government, and the prices ruling were a few shillings lower than those charge! lately for Pukekohe onions.

Mr. Stewart explained that the reas:>;i for the Government's purchase of the balance of the Pukekohe stocks was t<> supply the needs of the Wellington anil Hawke's Bay districts. He was unable to say wh«t <|uantity was remaining

from the recent shipment of over 700 tons, imported from Japan, but he coulft give an assurance that the market would be amply supplied for some time to come.