FRUIT IMPORTS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26319, 13 January 1951, Page 6

FRUIT IMPORTS

STATE CONTROL ENDED PUBLIC COMPANY TAKES OVER The importing and distributing of citrus fruits, bananas, and pineapples pave now been taken over by a public company, in which the shareholder* are those fruit merchants who previously acted as wholesale distributors under licence from the Marketing Department. The distribution of fruit Which arrived on the Akaroa and Maui Pu. m . a re lust before the new company officially commenced onerations on January I has been carried out by the Marketing Department. The first fruit to be brought to the South Island by the new company will be Australian oranges and Island bananas, which are expected soon. By agreement with the Government the company has the sole right to import the fruit for five years. It has a registered capital of £50.000, but so far only £25,000 has been called up. The provisional directors are Messrs Harvey Turner and Alan DonSr ld J A H c y, and) > H - c - Frampton and H. E. Radley (Christchurch), and E C. Emeny (Wellington). Provision has been made for one director to be a Government official, and Mr C. R. Ridding, formerly supervisor of imported fruits for the Marketing Department. has been appointed to represent the Government. The company has taken over all contracts previously made by the Marketing Department, and has appointed as manager Mr Ross Walker, of Hastings, who is a member of the Napier Harbour Board and a past president of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce. Mr Turner has been appointed the first chairman of directors. No indication has been given of what the retail prices of imported fruits will be under the new arrangement. The companv has agreed to limit the rate of dividend to 5 per cent, and the payment of directors' fees so that the public can receive the benefit of all nossible economies, but Mr Turner said some time ago that nrices would depend on the cost of buying overseas. Most of the citrus fruit will come from Australia Jamaica and the Cook Islands. To protect New Zealand’s citrus industrv imports of lemons will be made by the company only on a Government order.

There has been no chaTigp in the retail prices of oranges and bananas in Christchurch so far. as the shinrnent of Jamaican oranees brought by the Akaroa and the Samoan bananas brought by the Maui Pomare arrived before the new company took over from the Marketing Department. When the department contro’led imported fruits Australian and Jamaican oranges were retailed at lid ner lb and Island oranees at 8d par lb. Bananas were sold st 7ld per lb. It is thought likely that prices will remain th® same until at least the end of March.