SUPPLY OF BANANAS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 94, 15 January 1936, Page 11

SUPPLY OF BANANAS

Dunedin Fruiterers Not

Satisfied

BIG INCREASE IN PRICE Dominion Special Service. Duiiediiij January I I. Although, in common with the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association, it realises that there is need for some change in the present system of supplying bananas, the Otago Retail Fruiterers’ Association has not yet taken any action, hut it is probable that, in the near future the position will be reviewed and the Government approached with a view to bringing about an improvement. According to prominent fruiterers, Dunedin appears to be in n worse position than Christchurch. It was stated to-day that 75 per cent, ■of the bananas sold locally were Samoan bananas delivered from Christchurch, plus 2/3 a case for freight and an additional 2d. or 3d. for cartage. When the Government inaugurated the direct service of tlie Maui Pomare it was intended that ample supplies of Samoan bananas would be available to the public at an acceptable price, but this intention hud not been fulfilled. Tenders had been called for South Island shipments and the Government protection of the .Samoan contract had created the present unsatisfactory position by the restriction of other sources of supply. Retailers had paid up to 30/~ a. case for tlie December shipment, and the January shipment arrived on a bare market with a ruling price of 26/- a case. The public was entitled to an ample supply at a reasonable price and retailers were also entitled to a fair margin of profit on their sales. Ten years ago bananas sold at half the price they realised to-day, the shortage of supplies being partly responsible for the large increase. POSITION IN AUCKLAND Supplies From Fiji Also Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 14. The Christchurch banana boycott is not likely to have any effect in Auckland, according to local fruit merchants. It was explained that tlie whole South Island supply is drawn from Samoa with the exception of a small quantity from Cook Islands, whereas Auckland’s bananas come from Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. Samoan bananas 'are imported on a Government contract similar to that governing the South Island, while the Tongan Government lets a contract for the shipment of bananas from that group. Fijian fruit, on the other hand, is sold on open consignment. One Auckland merchant who had had experience with the southern contract, said that the Christchurch suggestion that the whole of the Maul Pomare’s cargo should be sold in the South Island was impracticable. The quantity was greater than the market could absorb in certain months and it would be impossible to get firms to contract under such conditions. The suggestion that the Maui Pomare bananas should not be sold in Wellington involved a restraint of trade and was not in the public interest. The present. tender system had been proved by the Government to be the best. The Government had done what it had been asked, he said. It had given the South Island a supply of bananas for the whole year. A shortage was natural in the first two mouths of the year as the hot weather created a demand, but it was difficult to sell bananas in the south during the winter.