PRICE OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 9

PRICE OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Wellington Food Value League Meets

Forty women and three men had an opportunity of voicing their grievances on the price of fruit, vegetables, and fish, at a meeting of the Wellington Food Value League, on Thursday night. It was stated that the function of the organization was to help women in their problems, and that the price of fruit and vegetables was one of the greatest problems in Wellington today. The meeting decided to suggest to the Beautifying Society the planting of fruit trees of a suitable nature on the highways and streets, and to ask broadcasting authorities for a nutrition session. Other suggestions which were favoured, but did not go to the vote, were to write to the Internal Marketing Department expressing concern at the price of ’the commodities, and to find out places where fruit and vegetables could be bought cheaply, and advise members accordingly. The chairwoman was Mrs. Bentley. Stressing the value of fruit, Mrs. A. E. Hefford said that quantities were grown in New Zealand and exported overseas, yet the cry was heard, that fruit was too dear. It was said that growers could not live ou a smaller profit, but surely it should not be beyond the limits of man to devise some scheme whereby fruit would be made available to people who lived in a country where it was extensively grown. It' cost Id. a lb. to grow apples, yet they could not be bought for less than 4d. People would be surprised if they knew the number of men with families earning £4 a week; it would readily be seen how difficult it was to buy fruit on that amount. It seemed a wicked thing to allow fruit to rot in the orchard so that the market price could be kept up, when so many children could do with it. The price of vegetables was discussed 'by Mrs. D. J. Tyffe, who contended that the price of potatoes was scandalous.

It was decided to have a discussion at the next meeting between a grower and a retailer.