PRICES OF CHERRIES.

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 11

PRICES OF CHERRIES.

TO TUB BDITOK. Sir, —lie the correspondence on the price of chorr I read at the auction rooms that two crates of cherries were left over on Christmas Eve unsold, and on Monday morning those were consigned to the pig barrel, having become mouldy. Wo have hero another example of keeping food till it rots rather than give it to the poor who are unable to buy. I think if those gentlemen at the auction rooms had thought of the little kiddies of the unemployed and sent the fruit round to the various charitable institutions it would have been more fitting for the season of goodwill towards men" and in remembrance of the blessed one who never forgot the class that cannot afford to buy even food, let alone cherries, at any price. Let ns hope the new year will bring about a better and more thoughtful attitude from one to another.—l am, etc., 13. E, Kite. December 31.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —Anent the correspondence regarding a local quoting a discrepancy between whole and retail prices of cherries. I was phoned by one of the city auction firms this morning and advised that I was credited with being the author of the article in question, and, that as a result there was an indication that buyers would boycott my cherries, which at the time were being offered Until then I was not aware of the existence of the article, neither do I know its author. I am not in the habit of making Press statements under a non-do-plume, and, if the report of the suggested

action of the trade is true it reflects little credit on the trade. The Alexandra cherry growers should be grateful to Mr Newall for the advertisement he has given them and one would not be so unkind as to suggest that if the complaint had emanated from an. Alexandra grower, Roxburgh may have been singled out for tho compliment. The growers mentioned produce some of the finest cherries in the world—nevertheless, many beautiful samples of the same varieties come forward from Roxburgh side. At tho same time it has to be admitted that some of the earlier cherries from this area did not hold up this season, and it is obvious that frost damage developed after the fruit had left the orchards in apparently sound condition—some would probably be dear at 3d per lb. Personally, I should say that the retailer who, under the present economic conditions, endeavoured to make a margin between. 3d and Is 6d would commit business suicide.

Nevertheless, your correspondents do remind one of Shakespeare’s satire: “ He protesteth too much.”.—l am, etc., ' H. Tueneii. December 31.

TO TEE EDITOR. Sir,—On December 24 my husband bought a 101 b case of cherries at 31 d per lb. When opened these cherries were large, firm, and juicy, a darkfleshed variety Avhich were labelled “ black.” Not one was thrown out. They were grown by Mr John Bennetts, of Roxburgh, stranger to me, but fruiterers will know him. Some eighteen cases were put up for auction, twelve being bought by a main street fruiterer, the others going singly. So why that sarcastic letter suggesting the Roxburgh grower’s letter was published to fill up the paper?—l am, etc., Fruit Eatek. December 30.