BLUFF OYSTERS

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 10

BLUFF OYSTERS

HIGHER PRICES

MERCHANTS' DECISION

During recent year* the fish merchants of Bluff have been competing with- one another to such an extent that the price of oysters was reduced by. -about 2C per cent., but this uneconomic competition has brought so many of them to the verge of disaster that^tHey: have decided to advance their prices again. The increase, ■ which . Will amount to about 20 p'er cent., is being opposed by" some of the retair fishmongers in the south.■'... .",;■• ■■.■■'■•'-.;"^? A Press Association message received from, Christ church this'.morning, states that tho Christchurch: retail fishmongers last evening decided not to order oysters from Bluff for the coming season until they receive a satisfactory explanation of the proposed increase in price. As the oyster season opens on Friday, the fishmongers' decision will probably mean that Christchurch will be without .oyster* -for several days. ' • •* ;,

There has been no suggestion of similar action in Wellington, a local fishmonger stated when interviewed Toy an "Evening Post" reporter this morning, and such .'action Was .hot desired. Competition in, the south had brought the price of oysters down to an unusually low level to the benefit 'of the general public, but those merchants who supplied the, oysters had found that they could not continue the supply at:the low prices. They simply could.not carry on, and had agreed to increase the price jto a figure a little below that ruling in normal times.

"We cannot expect to get something for nothing," the merchant said. : ('The public have had the , benefit of cutthroat competition, but the merchants cannot keep that up and remain in business. They have been losing money for two or three years,-and have gone as far as they can go."

Before the .prices were reduced the cost in Wellington was about 25s a sack. This fell until it reached 18s, so the proposed increase will probably be in the vicinity of ss, a sack. Even if it is greater than that it will still represent a very slight increase per dozen.

Inquiries are already being made for the new season oysters, and local merchants anticipate a good demand. A record of the- importations into the North Island has not been kept, but the average season's supply is estimated at approximately 15,000 sacks.