SALE OF N.Z. LEMONS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26855, 7 October 1952, Page 6

SALE OF N.Z. LEMONS

NO HANDLING BY MERCHANTS HIGHER COMMISSION WANTED Supplies of New Zealand lemons are not being handled in Christchurch bv lhe New Zealand Fruit and Produce Merchants' and Auction- . Federation. Last month the federation informed the Minister of Maiketmg that after October 3 its members were prepared to accept New Zealand lemons for sale only at the cent dard commission rate of 10 per As a result of the fruit merchants’ decision the Marketing Department which is responsible for the distribu-’ tion of New Zealand standard lemons on behalf of the Citrus Marketing Committee, has made other arrant ments. In Christehureh one agVnt who is a .wholesale fruit merchant has been appointed to handle the distribu! Recently the Price Tribunal raised the commission rate on lemons from 6‘ per cent, to 8| per eent. The fruit merchants and auctioneers, claim that it is uneconomic for them to handte New Zealand lemons at a rate lower than 10 per cent,, which has been the recognised standard rate of commission for the sale of fruit and produce l'LT n , y l i:' ear3 ' The . federation says also that the commission rate was re. duced when the marketing of New Zealand lemons was taken over bv the Marketing Department in 1939 | the merchants’ refusal; nr^=. d J e lemons has been «n increase in the demand fop Meyer I

lemons, which are not controlled J any way. At present they are in shOT supply. Merchants have reef’/j numerous inquiries for lemons, but have advised prosped? purchasers that members in u»e eration are not handling them.