LESS CONTROL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 284, 1 December 1942, Page 4

LESS CONTROL

VEGETABLE PRICES

NEW SEASON'S PRODUCE

Inquiries made at the city markets to-day show that all wholesale firms are faithfully observing the price orders fixing the prices of certain vegetables, and there is no question of defiance of the law, as reported from Christchurch, where many prosecutions are pending against wholesalers and retailers who, it is alleged, have been selling above the fixed maximum rates.

Actually, few vegetables on the Auckland markets are affected by the -fixed rates. Most new season's produce, such as green peas, beans and onions, is selling on a free market, while cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce are also subject to normal supply and demand conditions. Ceiling prices, fixed by the tribunal, apply to new potatoes and new season's root crops.

New carrots and parsnips, which are usually plentiful at this time of the year, are practically off the market. Many growers, finding the fixed rates unprofitable, have diverted production to other vegetables, while all growers are detrimentally affected by the shortage of labour. Months ago representations were made to the authorities for some relief in the manpower position of individual market gardeners, but most of them have had no relief, and the result is reflected in decreased quantities of fruit and vegetables reaching the city. Labour costs are high. For instance, up to 5/ a bag has to be paid to pickers of peas, compared with 9d to 1/6 a .few years ago.

The recent rains have brought a spurt in production, and with the maturing of increasing quantities of home-grown vegetables the market for many lines may ease shortly. Lettuce, of which ki.ge supplies have come to hand since the rain began, were very cheap to-day.

On the other hand the entire supply position, as weli as the prices of those vegetables which are not the subject of control, is likely to be upset at any time by a heavy draw-off by the armed forces and shipping.