CONTAINER CHARGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 April 1946, Page 6

CONTAINER CHARGES

RETAILERS JUBILANT AT REMOVAL CLAIMS ONJSOVERNMENT (PA.) AUCKLAND, April 24-. Fruiterers and greengrocers were jubilant to-day, having won the battle with the Government over the contentious charges for fruit cases and other produce containers, including bags and sacks in which fruit and vegetables were purchased at auctions. The levies, ranging from 1/- to 3d, have been wiped out by an Order in Council. The charges were collected through the fruit and produce auctioneers acting as agents of the Government, and who were required to credit the amounts to the growers. When the retailers emptied the cases, they sold them to case companies at slightly less than the amounts charged through the auctioneers. Manv thousands of empty cases which have deteriorated have now accumulated in the hands of . Auckland companies. Claims arising out of this potential loss have been made against the Government. The accumulation of cases is estimated at hundreds of thousands throughout New Zealand, and claims against the Government will probably amount to thousands of pounds.