BAN ON BANANAS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 10

BAN ON BANANAS

Fruiterers Object to Marketing System

CHRISTCHURCH DECISION

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, January 13

Christchurch retail fruiterers decided to-night to buy no more bananas until tlie present system of marketing Samoan bananas is changed. The decision was made at a meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association. It was agreed that the present stocks of bananas held by retailers aud subcontractors should be pooled aud divided among the members of the association and sold as quickly as possible. When this supply has been exhausted it will not be possible for the public to buy bananas from shops owned by members of the association. It was stated that the South Island Federation was united and'there was no possibility of the fruit being dumped in the territory of other associations. As stated at the meeting of the fruiterers, objection is to the system by which one -tenderer obtains control of the whole quota of bananas for Christchurch, the effect of which was that retailers aud the public had to pay too high prices. It was the opinion of re tailers that the prices for bananas this year would be 18/6 a case, which, it was stated; was 5/6 too much. The present system was iniquitous in that, it created a monopoly in a staple commodity.