THE REASONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1942, Page 4

THE REASONS

ABNORMAL SEASON

PRODUCTION IN HUTT VALLEY

Upon consideration of the material before it, the tribunal finds that the chief causes for the present high prices of vegetables are as follows:—

1. The extraordinary wet and cold season, which has been prolonged beyond the normal, has resulted in much lessened production.

2. The removal from civilian life into military service of* many men employed by market gardeners and many others who would otherwise have done the work connected with the production of vegetables in home gardens, and the difficulty of obtaining skilled labour in replacement.

3. The increase in the number of people who ljve in flats and, as a general rule, are not in occupation of any land on which vegetables can tie grown.

4. The steps which have necessarily been taken by the Food Controller for the canning in large quantities of vegetables, particularly for the supply of our Armed Forces abroad and in this country.

5. The heavy demands under present circumstances of the Army, Navy, and Air Force for the supply of fresh vegetables for our Armed Forces. 6. The demand for large quantities of vegetables to be taken on board troopships and other ships calling at New Zealand ports. , . .. 7. So far as the Gity of Wellington is concerned, the much lessened production of vegetables in the Hutt Valley, owing to the fact that about 250 acres of land have recently been acquired for housing purposes. 8. Decreased production, owing to the increased ravages of pests and diseases. 9. The absence of planned production by market gardeners, due to the lack' of organisation of their industry. 10. The existence of too many retail shops, resulting in overhead being disproportionately high. 11. The difficulty of instituting any proper and reasonable system of costing, resulting in some retailers charging the highest price they can get, having regard to supply and demand. 12. The practice adopted by retailers generally of selling certain classes of vegetables by the bunch, regardless of weight. 13. The system of auctioning at a time of shortage has tended to increase prices as the result of competition for the available supplies. 14. The supply of carrots available in the markets has been lessened considerably by the demands of rabbiters for poisoning purposes.