MARKET BOYCOTT

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 62, 11 September 1945, Page 8

MARKET BOYCOTT

GROWERS' ACTION

COMMISSION ON CONTAINERS

Fruit and vegetable growers boycotted six of the seven main markets in Wellington yesterday as a protest against the continued practice of charging them commission on produce containers as well as the goods they contain. Complaints against this practice have been made by both European and Chinese growers over the past several months, and when this did not bring about a change almost all the produce offering yesterday was diverted to the co-operative concern of Market Gardeners, Ltd., the only market in the city which does not charge container commission.

For 25 years until a few months ago growers had not paid commission on container charges to the markets which sell their produce. When, a few months ago, an Order in Council made the containers a charge against the retailers, all markets adopted the practice of charging a 10 per cent, commission on the price of the containers, and the growers protested. 'For the past few months Market Gardeners, Ltd., have ceased this practice, but despite protests the other markets continued it. A combined protest by Chinese and European growers recently failed to obtain the change they desired, and yesterday's action resulted.

A full clearance of the offering at current prices was effected yesterday. The other auctioneering firms are reported to be endeavouring to arrange for supplies from further afield if the present policy of the growers is continued, but the opinion was expressed by growers today that this would be difficult, particularly so in the case of Chinese growers further away from Wellington, who are expected to have been kept fully informed of the progress of the dispute.

The public are not likely to be affected by the dispute. Prices yesterday were normal, and it is possible that the dropping of the container commission charge may result in some lines in a small decrease in retail prices. \

The following charges are made 'for the main types of fruit and vegetables containers:—Vegetable cases, Is; appl« boxes, 6d; cases (with lids) for tomatoes, peaches, and plums, 4d; without lids, 3d; vegetable sacks, 6d; sugar bags, 3d; pear boxes, sd. The commission of 10 per cent, which was charged on these works . out in most cases to fractions of a penny. No. mention was made in the Order in Council which made such containers chargeable to the retailer of any charge for commission on their sale.