PRODUCE MARKET TIMES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28133, 23 November 1956, Page 14

PRODUCE MARKET TIMES

ADVICE OF EVENING OPENING

Christchurch produce markets, beginning from December 17, will be open to receive produce -from 5 a.m., and between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. on week days (Friday excepted) for a trial period. This advice was received at a meeting of the Canterbury Tomato, Stone Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association last evening, in a letter from the Canterbury Fruit and Produce Merchants’ Association. Since November 11 markets have been open on Sunday evenings only, from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., to enable growers to make deliveries of produce.

“The growers will be much in favour of the opening of the markets in the evenings between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m., but even with that in view’. I urge growers to get as much produce as possible in to the markets the day or evening before—if it is not perishable,” said the president of the association (Mr N. M. Stow). The association was strongly against the suggested opening of market sales at 7 a.m. “The 7 a.m. opening may have suited the merchants and retailers, but not the* growers,” said Mr G. F. Roberts.

“The 8 a.m. opening of sales is early enough,” said Mr A. F. Seyb. . “At 7 a.m. only half the floor of retail buyers would be there, and there would be only half the competition Prices would drop, and some of the produce would be almost given away.”

It was also felt that earlier sales would result in produce arriving at the markets picked a day earlier than at present, at a time when merchants were calling for better quality produce. Holiday traffic schedules of transport services would be based on last year’s schedule, the meeting was informed. and a list of holiday period market opening dates and railway freight charges would be published in the next issue of the association’s Journal. . 4, A letter was received from Southland produce merchants saying that Southland markets would be closed on December 24 and December 31. the latter date being Anniversary Day and a public holiday. “It is reasonable for them to close on December 31, but other centres— Timaru and Dunedin —are opening on December 24, and we expect Invercargill and Gore to open on that date, too,” said Mr Seyb. A resolution, condemning Southland markets for their intention not to open on December 24, and requesting them to reconsider their decision considering that other centres were opening on that date, was carried. The system of colour branding of cases to indicate destination of produce was discussed at length. Several speakers considered such a system would complicate, and not simplify, distribution of goods. It was said that inefficiency -of transport services, especially more of the Railways Department, was largely to blame for delays, and misdirection of goods. A motion to empower the association’s transport committee to discuss with the railway authorities a system of colour codes for different dstricts to simplify railway sorting was los: