Merger will rationalise Chch fruit market

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33095, 9 December 1972, Page 16

Merger will rationalise Chch fruit market

Radley Bros, Ltd, and the Macfarlane Trading Company, Ltd, have signed an agreement to merge into one company to be known as Macfarlane and Growers, Ltd. The merger will be effective from January 22 next.

From that date, there will be only two fruit and vegetable auction markets in Christchurch. The number will have been reduced from four within 12 months.

Turners and Growers, Ltd, the biggest fruit, vegetable, and flower auctioning firm in New Zealand, will have a shareholding in Macfarlane and Growers, Ltd. It will be the first expansion of the Auckland-based firm into the South Island. Macfarlane and Growers will have a fully paid up capital of $500,000. The manager of the new company will be Mr A. Cahill, of the Macfarlane Trading Company, and the

secretary, Mr L. C. Johnson of Radley Bros. Mr H. E. Radley will retire from business after a long life in the industry. Messrs J. T. McKendry and C. Edwards, directors of the Macfarlane Trading Company, will continue as directors of Macfarlane and Growers. Mr J. P. Turner, managing director of Turners and Growers, will also be a director of Macfarlane and Growers. EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

Mr McKendry yesterday said that the new company would have an efficient combination of world-class market buildings. Auctions after the merger would take place on the Radley Bros floor, with the Macfarlane trading floor for the display

and sale of fixed-price lines including apples, pears, and bananas.

The new firm would have a staff of about 140, the combined staff of both existing firms. "There will be some planning and replanning before the change-over at the weekend before January 22,” Mr McKendry said. “The management of the new company will remain in Christchurch. “The new market will not be a replica of the Auckland Turners and Growers market because some methods there will not be suitable for Christchurch. Turners and Growers has been instrumental in arranging the amalgamation,” Mr McKendry said.

“You could say that we were the catalyst in forming the merger between Radley’s and Macfarlanes,” said Mr Turner, in a telephone interview from Auckland. “We hope we will be able to help in general improvements, which will benefit all. We have no intention in imposing our views on the Christchurch scene, but think we have some ideas and methods which may be helpful in the Christchurch market.” No discussion had been held about the new Christchurch company auctioning flowers, Mr Turner said. GROWERS’ REACTION The president of the Canterbury Growers’ Society (Mr B. G. Hart) said he welcomed the merger. “It will rationalise the auctioning of fruit and vegetables in Christchurch,” he said. “The merger will mean that the number of auction markets will be reduced from four to two wjthin 12 months. About eight months ago, Park Davis, Ltd, was taken over by the Welling-ton-based growers’ co-opera-tive firm of Market Gardeners, Ltd. “I am confident that the formation of the new auctioning company will lead to the code of ethics practised in the Auckland market being introduced into the Christchurch market. It will Cut a stop to some peculiar uying practices. Growers have been trying to have the code adopted in Christchurch for years.

“The Auckland market run by Turners and Growers is not only the biggest in New Zealand but also the most efficient. Methods used there would benefit growers if used in the Christchurch market,’ 1 Mr Hart said.