THE FRUIT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 6

THE FRUIT TRADE

TIMES HARD FOR EVERYBODY CAUSES OF HIGH PRICES The consumers of fruit are complaining at present about tho very high prices, they have to pay. to the retailer, but the retailer in his turn is complaining just as bitterly about /the very high prices he has to pay in the market for the small supplies of fruit he is able to get for his business. The consumer .mostly blames the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper blames the man with whom he deals—the fruit merchant or auctioneer. In point of fact, the position seems to be that tho times are hard for everybody in the trade, not excepting the grower, for although the grower has a good market to sell his product in owing to .the shutting out of nil imported fruit, the season has been such a bad <jne that he has but little fruit to sell. The auctioneer is not having a happy time because he is getting such small supplies of fruit, to sell, and owing to the, high prices being paid for it, tho retailers who are his customers are displeased. The retailers are the masters of the situation to this extent—that they are the real controllers of 'the price of fruit, in that the fruit' is all sold under the hammer at auction, and the price paid is the result of competition among tho retailers. On the other hand tho supplies coming forward are not nearly sufficient to satisfy the demand, and if'a shopkeeper wishes to keep his business going at all he must compete for fruit, even at- extortionate prices. Tho prevailing discontent among the growers found expression during, the last two days of last week in the refusal of -the busers to bid at one of the firm's sales. There was a dispute between the buyers assembled and the auctioneer about the sale of a line of black currants—a class of fruit, by the way, which does not show such a huge increase in price ,as is ruling'for other fruit/ The facts are complicated, and need not be recounted. The buyers accused the auctioneer of having_ dealt unfairly with them, and tho auctioneer and his chief in the firm deny the unfairness, and give an explanation of tho facts which is reasonable, and which, if accepted, clears the firpi of blame. Tho action of the retailers in this matter is, however, only _ a little incident.' . Their exasperation with tho present conditions of trading is serious. They have an association, and when the association met to consider what ought to be done in connection with this affair of the black currants they discussed other grievances of the trade. They may take some' action to obtain the interference of the Government for their protection, and for the better conduct of the trade. They say that fruit ! and veegtables are_ arriving at the markets in such condition that they cannot pay the] present prices for them and quit them at a profit. It is found, they says; that the cases are "topped up" tho best of the fruit at the top, and poorer stuff underneath—and! that at tho present rates they cannot do business at all with safety. What they urge is that there ought to bo some Government supervision in the nature or grading of fruit. ' But they also allege that the present priccs _have been' forced by the action of middlemen, and that they do not represent the effect of ihe working of the. law of supply and demand. They say that they are being exploited, and, thoy refuse to believe that the prohibitive prices are the result'of, shortage of imported supplies and tho late sea6on. . . The case was piit from ano'thor point of view by tho head of-'one of the firms' whose business it is to sell fruit at auction. "Tho position trulv is that the retailers are having a bad time," he said. "Tliero is nothing coming forward. Tho very cold weather has kept back all the summer fruit. And there have been 110 boats from Fiji, which should have been bringing very heavy supplies of bananas; no boats from Earotonga, which should have brought oranges .<nd banana's; and no boats from Sydney, bringing the usual sumw-r fruits, such aj plums, pears, and peaches, and a varied assortment;of other fruit, such as oranges, lemons, and loquats. In addition the supply of American apples has been cut off. Add to all this tho fact that this 'has been one of the worst seasons evor experienced in this country for stone fruit, and it is not hard to understand the shortage of supplies which is . the only cause of the present prices. There is no doubt that the small quantity of fruit coming into this market is realising price's at which the retailer must find it impossible to make a profit. We, as auctioneers,- have had a most wretched time ourselves. _It is not pleasant'to- carry on business under such conditions. But it is certainly, not'true that we are out to rob the retailers by forcing up prices. I admit that the retailers are having a bad time, but tho remedy is in their hands. Thoy bid up the fruit at auction."