NO BUYERS FOR FRUIT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14821, 12 November 1913, Page 10

NO BUYERS FOR FRUIT.

AN UNSOLD CARGO,

CHINESE HOLD OFF.

THE FRUIT WILL KEEP

i (SPECIAI- TO "THE TBESS. ,, ) WELLINGTON November 11. The fate of the large quantity of Island fruit which was landed from (the steamer Willocbra and carted to the market yesterday was the subject of considerable interest to-day. The Strike Committee oaring failed in their efforts to prevent the fruit being carted from the sheds, have now attempted to prerent ite. sale. They contemptuously refer to.the frnit as "scab" cargo, and they have been urging that not only should the carters refuse to handle it, but that the retail buyers should decline to purchase it. Mr W. T. Mills and others connected with the strike foregathered, o.uteide the mart yesterday ajid exhorted the carters and buyers to boycott the fruit. At tho conclusion of the address several ohinese and European buyers approached the merchants and expressed tho fear that if they disobeyed tho wish of tho Federation their tsliope and property would be" liable to attack, broken windows boing one special fear of the Celestials. One or two Oriental buyers had apparently been so intimidated. They feared for their lives, and under the circumstances they gave the merchants to understand that they would not buy the fruit landed from tho Willochra when it was offered for sale to-day. RETAILERS DECLINE TO BUY. j There was an air of expectancy at the mart tiiis morning as tho time approached for the commencement of the sales. Somp half-a-dozen regular foot police and ono or two uetectives strolled round amid the crowd of buyers. In the, street outside there were half-a-dozeh mounted "specials," '• and a couple of regular mounted men. There ■was, however, no disturbance, and the sale of vegetables proceeded apace. Carrots sold at 10s a sack, and equally Rood prices : were • oßtained for other Ones, tho Chinese competing vigorously. When the vegetables had been sold, a. start was "made with the Island fruit. There was a large crowd round the auctioneer who was first to start, but not many w,ere buyers. Tho Chinese held off, though they looked with longing eyes oh'the bananas and apples. .Polish and Italian fruiterers, some of them barrowmen and sonio suburban retailers, bought a number of.! cases of the ripe uananas, which went at prices ranging from about 4s to 6s per case. When the green bananas were , reached, it was seen that bidding was not up to wie value of the frnit, and the sale stopped. A fair number of cases of American apples were sold at 14s a case, most of them for suburban or country • dealers. Ono or two cases of oranges were also sold, but an attempt 'was not mado to push this stock, as it will keep. It is stated Chat a meeting of the White Fruiterers' Association resolved not to buy tho fruit. SJome fruiterers appeared to favour this stand, but- it was plain that tho action of all was not the outcome of sympathy for the strikers. "I'm not going to buy," one ma,n said. "I've cot windows in my shop." "The auctioneers, alluded freely to. this phase of the question. "You've got the hearts of chickens," said ono derisively. . WHAT MERCHANTS SAY.

"We're not going to worry about it," said one prominent merchant, who was spoken to to-day. "The fruit is there, and it is not our fault if the public is deprived of it. Most of tho ripe stuff has been sold, and the rest will keep for some time. We never hurry the sale of American fniit, as country buyers have to be considered. When the public begins to clamour tor fruit tho retailers will nave to take it. If not, the merchants and brokers could easily open shops inemselves* and sell retail, and I have no doubt that that would be done before the fruit would be allowed to rot. We don't want to see the public suffer if we can help it." After, the principal business of the market had been transacted, white andChinese fruiterers held a meeting to discuss the question of dealing with imported fruit. Subsequently it was re-

ported that a motion had been carried liy a small majority to the eifect that the Willochra's fruit be not touched.

DEMONSTRATION AT PETONE

MORE THREATS BY MR SEMPLE

(tress association telegkau x - WELLINGTON, November 11. The watersiders held a demonstration at Petone to-night. A<Mresses vero tfiven by Messrs Farland, Glover, "NY. Perry, rind Semple.

Mr Semplo said a requisition was being prepared for signature by the workers of New Zealand calling on the Government to give tho workers power to organise. The employers had thrown down the gauntlet, and the workers were going to fight for their rights, even if it were necessary to paralyse the industries of tho country from the North Cape to Bluff. The following resolution was adopted: "That this meeting of Petone citizens, after reading tho masters' case in the Press, and hearing the workers' side from accredited speakers, is of opinion that the masters, in seeking to compel the workers to register under the Arbitration Act, are guilty of most unjustifiable and unwarranted tyranny, and so calls upon the Government to givo effect to tho proposals and demands of the workers' organisation."