CONTAINER CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 26011, 28 January 1947, Page 4

CONTAINER CHARGE

FRUITERERS REFUSE TO PAY NO BUSINESS AT MARKETS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, January 28. Business came to a standstill at the city markets this morning when retail fruiterers held a meeting to discuss the imposition of a container charge on a certain type of box used for packing stone fruit. Mr C. C. King, secretary of the Auckland Fruit and Vegetable Retailers’ Association, said he was notified last night that as from to-day the brokers would charge 4d for a 7in by 7in case containing peaches, apricots, and plums and 2d for trays. The retailers met this morning to consider the position and passed a resolution refusing. to pay the charges pending a meeting of their federation in Wellington on. February 9, The brokers, said Mr King, also met and decided not to impose the charges on cases packed with local fruit, but to charge for cases from outside districts.

A representative of the auctioneers said the charge of ! 4d on a 7 x 7 box was paid everywhere in New Zealand except in Auckland, and the auctioneers, acting on behalf of the growers, had taken action to bring Auckland into line with other centres. The charge was included in the price order fixed by the tribunal. Although retailers state they will not purchase southern fruit bearing the container charge of 4d, the merchants 'report no wastage will take place. The bulk of the Hawke’s Bay and Otago fruit goes to other centres, and it is believed what little comes to Auckland will be readily disposed pf. '