"BUY OTHER GOODS"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 194, 18 August 1942, Page 6

"BUY OTHER GOODS"

WITH POTATO ORDERS

attitude of fruiterers

Complaints have been made that some Auckland fruiterers are taking advantage of the potato problem to compel people to buy other goods as well if they want potatoes. This, of course, has been done before, in the case of silk stockings, and j? j s being done in the selling of matches When investigations were made in' the city to-day it was found that a small minority of shops were carrying on this practice, and some shops in the suburbs had also made the same ruling.

The first reaction of customers is that it is "'another ease of profiteering.'' which seems all the worse in view of the fact that it concerns food.

[ "Why." they ask. "should people be forced to buy goods which thev ntav not need, so that they can have ! potatoes, which they <] 0 need"" What right have shopkeepers to di c . tate to the public what they mav and may not buy? The goods are there. The people ought to be able to buy what they want." Deterrent to Panic Buying All this is logical, but it ignores the chief reason for the practicenamely, that a great many people selfishly rush from shop 'to shoi> buying up potatoes. It also acts as a deterrent to panic buving jf people are required also to purchase a cauliflower or some apples. These facts were pointed out bv a fruiterer this morning. "We are not profiteering," she said. have to do this to prevent some people getting more than their fair share. We know that some people send all their relations in. because we have had in the last few week; three times as many customers a; we normally have."

She went on.. "Why should people "pick the eyes'' out of us. just bv buying what they want? We know the pubilc. Half of them only enter this shop to buy potatoes or oranges. Why should our ?-eeular customers suffer? Small Profit Margin "We cannot profiteer on potatoes in any case.'' she said. "We are allowed to make onlv a halfpenny a pound on potatoes, and half of the stuff with which we are supplied is broken and a quarter of it is dirt It is hot we who are profiteering but the Government." Customers may reply that the shopkeeprs are still making more money on the extra goods bought with the potatoes. However it" is claimed that there is justification for resentment on both sides, and that the whole question of the present management, or mismanagement of vegetables and fruit is involved. r ecd for such a Practice is definitely wrong, yet it is ako obvious that some sort of rationing to give everyone a fair share is J he evil ]ies 50 much in the pidctice. as in the cause of the ?he Ct !, C T' ill is one more rea ?on whv the whole question of fruit and gated 3 should be openly investi-