Price Of Flowers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31052, 6 May 1966, Page 12

Price Of Flowers

Sir.—ls not this typical of the whole auctioneering system affecting both flowers and vegetables? Do the florists not have a ring buying arrangement? Do the florists realise that flowers bought at 2s a dozen and sold at 12s (lowest price) give 500 per cent profit? Surely it does not cost this fantastic profit to run a shop. What about the grower? No-one worries about his soaring overheads. “Envious of Grower” should try the growing business himself if he has the tenacity and willingness to work seven days a week, daylight until after dark, and see shopkeepers reap the profit of his long hours. There would not be so many unsold flowers and vegetables if they were sold to the consumer at a more realistic price.—Yours, etc., INDIVIDUALIST. May 5, 1966.

Sir, —Just as an ordinary reader I objected to “Grower’s” false conclusions. 1 am no florist. It seems that “Grower,” “Parsley Bill” “Down to Earth” and “Fair Play” use the non sequitur or “it-does-not-follow” method in reaching conclusions. Following the same method one could conclude that “Parsley Bill,” who twists words with such ease, could twist flowers into tributes with amazing skill. But the illusion is lost when he trots out the hoary apocryphal quip about florists making wreaths from dead flowers, and including, no less, those for which “Grower” got two bob. My envy of growers has dropped a lot now that the Federation of Labour fears the future disuse of halfpennies will bring profiteering.—Yours, ENVIOUS OF GROWERS. May 5, 1966.