Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14th., 1933. PRODUCE PROBLEMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1933, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14th., 1933. PRODUCE PROBLEMS.

yilE good harvest of almost

every crop, being reaped, this season, in New Zealand, is cause for national thankfulness, but is, on the other hand, accentuating the problem of selling the various commodities. Glutting the market, which means mainly Britain, brings its own penalty in the way of much reduced prices, and it is essential that some control of shipments should be maintained. The N.Z. Fruit Export Control Board has taken the drastic step of appointing a. single firm of London brokers to handle the Dominion’s fruit in Britain. The wisdom or otherwise of such a monopoly can be proved only by time and experience. It will arouse enmity in some quarters that have, hitherto, handled Dominion fruit, but no scheme of importance could be involved without some drawbacks. Guaranteed prices are to be allowed Dominion exporters, and it is to be hoped that these will prove satisfactory to sellers and buyers alike. If not so to the latter, they will transfer their patronage. Marketing reforms abroad should be accompanied by similar enterprise where New Zealand’s domestic supplies are concerned. It has long been a general complaint that its own grown fruit is too dear in the Dominion, The orchardist, the dis-

tributor and the retailer each declare they are not making undue profits, but the consumers believe that the margin between what they pay, and what the growers receive should be less.

Another important development concerns the wheat supplies of the country. The prices announced by the Board must be regarded as good for the growers. Some will protest, but they are obtaining rates well above world parity, and should be thankful for their sheltered position. The Minister (Mr. Masters) declares that the public interest will be protected, and that bread and flour prices will be in the same position as before. With a bumper harvest, both prices should be lower, and if adequate competition prevailed, they would be. Poultry farmers are told that as fowl wheat is not under control, but is subject to open competition, the price will more than likely be less than that which ruled last year. The arrangements appear to be satisfactory, from the wheatgrowers’ viewpoint, but objections may be expected from others, especially in the non-wheat growing districts.

More attention will have to be given to the problem of production and prices. “Produce more!” has been the appeal of Ministers for some years past, and is still a favourite prescription for national economic ills. Production without assured market is no unmixed blessing, and many a man who has a good crop to dispose of to-day, finds difficulty in obtaining buyers. An Auckland report declares, for instance, that potatoes are over-plentiful, not paying for digging. Yet, meanwhile, hundreds of unemployed men in Auckland would be glad of the potatoes. Similar instances abound of supply and demand.being chaotic. Stabilising prices usually means that the seller reaps undue advantage. Higher prices for commodities is urged by most economists, nowadays, but how those hit by heavy taxation and reduced earnings will be able to afford to buy at the higher prices, has not, hitherto, been made clear.