BANANAS CONTRACT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 68, 13 December 1930, Page 8

BANANAS CONTRACT

Protests Regarding Duty

TAPLEY AND CO. EXPLAIN

Dominion Special Service.

Dunedin, December 12.

The securing by a Dunedin firm of the Samoan bananas contract for a year has apparently caused grave concern in Auckland. The Auckland Fruit Importers’ Association is protesting against the imposition of an export duty of 2/6 per case, and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce is. reported to be backing up the protest. In response to a request this morning the holders of the contract, Messrs. 11. L. Tapley and Co., made the following statement

“The duty was put on a month ago It is understood to be the'Government’s reply to an attempt to bribe the natives to market their bananas apart from the Government and justifiable because it is in the best interests of the natives a whole to ship through the Administration. If the contract had been secured by the combined Auckland firms it is not likely that they would be protesting in this manner. As a fact, Mr. E. 0. Turner, of the firm of Turner Growers, took credit while in Dunedin for the •idea of collecting this very duty, It seems 'pretty evident that the,Aucklanders were desirous that the duty should be imposed •until they found out that they cannot 'now buy the bananas. Our firm has laid ifself'out to distribute the fruit-equit-ably between the wholesale fruit brokers 'of New Zealand, a system being devised in' the interests of the general public as well as the fruit brokers. Seemingly iit is the intention of the Aucklanders ■to try to get even with the South Island by harassing the Government departments that control the bananas and the 'Maui Pom'are.”