SAMOAN BANANAS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 138, 7 March 1930, Page 12

SAMOAN BANANAS

BOYCOTT IN CHRISTCHURCH RETAILERS DISSATISFIED Dominion Speciai Service Christchurch, March 6. There was considerable discussion among Christchurch retail fruiterers to-day as a result of their action yesterday in boycotting to a certain extent the sale of Samoan and Niue Island bananas in the markets. While they have decided upon no definite campaign, it seems to be generally agreed among them that the continuance of similar tactics will result in satisfaction. A city retailer with a large trade stated that the Samoan bananas are bought by an Auckland firm at 11/9 a case at Apia. Allowing 5/- a case for freightage to Christchurch, it was clear that the prices asked in the markets yesterday (27/- to 33/-) were absolutely unreasonable as all the merchants professed to be commission agents trading on a 10 per cent, commission basis. A figure in the neighbourhood of 20/- a case would show them a substantial profit. “Whether the fruit is sold by auction or at fixed rates is immaterial,” he said, “so long as the price is determined by the quantities available. If the Maui Pomare, as was originally intended, was running only to southern ports, it would make no difference in the matter of high prices. “The fact that the Government has sold the whole of the supply of Samoan bananas to an Auckland firm for 12 months has left it in that firm’s hands to send what it likes to the South Island. As Auckland firms also control the Fiji shipments it means that Auckland can practically dictate to the South Island as to what quantities it shall receive and what prices shall be asked.” The solution to the present trouble, he thought, lay in an amicable agreement between the Christchurch and Auckland merchants whereby Christchurch would be supplied with a set quantity of Samoan bananas at a fixed price for the remaining period of the Auckland firm’s contract. This would ensure as far as Christchurch was concerned no loss to the contractor as there was every indication that there would be a shortage of other bananas for the next six months.