PRICE OF VEGETABLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1940, Page 9

PRICE OF VEGETABLES

"GLARING DIFFERENCE.”

growers seek inquiry.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, June 12.

The great difference alleged to exist between the wholesale prices of some vegetables and those charged in the shops, as well as the trading difficulties of fruit and vegetable retailers, were discussed at length by the annual conference of the Dominion council of commercial gardeners at Wellington to-day. Eventually this remit was carried: “That the glaring difference between wholesale and retail prices for fruit and produce be inquired into'by the Government.”

Mr C. G. Reader (Auckland), moving the remits, said they could do no more than ask the Government to fix the maximum profit. He knew of an instance where a grower sent a 30pound case of beans to the market, which brought 3/1. This grower saw the same beans in an Auckland shop still with his name on the case, at 8d a pound. . ' » Mr E. S. Hewer (Hutt Valley)' said similar circumstances had been discussed in his district, and as a result two members made inquiries. However, they soon found themselves unpopular and decided to drop their investigations lest their produce be discriminated against by buyers in the market. There was an immense profit in some lines, as much as 300 and 400 per cent, more than the mai'ket prices. Mr A. B. Inglis said the position might not be as bad as was thought. Fruiterers sometimes suffered heavy losses. He saw one shopkeeper recently dump seven crates of lettuce and several bags of cabbages . into rubbish tins. They had high rents and losses to make up. He objected, however, to 300 and 400 per cent. What fruiterers lost .on one line they often made up on another. He remembered once when fruit was dear and could not be sold at much profit, that this disadvantage was offset by higher vegetable prices. Mr G. E. Billson (Christchurch): It the retailer got the vegetables for nothing he would still have to <jover his overhead.

APPLE AND PEAR SALES

CHRISTCHURCH, June 12.

The statement that the Government could not agree to treat apple and pear sales as separate transactions, but that the results of the scheme for handling crops together would be discussed with the industry in due course, was made Dy the Minister for Marketing (Mi Nash), in a Tetter read at the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association’s meeting. The letter was a reply to-a proposal that pear growers should receive an extra payment in the event of the average realisation for pears' being higher than the present schedule prices to growers. ■ Mr Nash’s reply was “This matter has had careful consideration, but the Government cannot agree to treat the apple and pear sales as separate tiansactions. Both crops are being handled together in accordance with the arrangement made with representatives of the industry, and the results of the scheme as a whole will be discussed with the industry in due course.” The reply was not discussed by the meeting.