FRUIT IMPORTS

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1938, Page 10

FRUIT IMPORTS

STATE REGULATION Middlemen’s Fears [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 11. Confirmation of the report that the scheme being formulated for the control and internal marketing ot New Zealand fruit, also involves control over fruit importations, was forthcoming from the Minister ot Marketing (Hon. W. Nash), in an interview to-day. All bananas and oranges required for Dominion use, he said, will be imported and distributed through the usual trade channels. Questioned whether this involved importation by the Government, Mr Nash said that he could not give any information at present because the growers were now discussing with the merchants the procedure to follow. “They are working it out,” he said. AUCKLAND, February 10.

It is authoritatively stated that the Government proposes to take control of the importation of all fruit into the Dominion as from April 1 next. Such fruit will be distributed at its discretion through the leading wholesale firms in the Dominion.

Some of the importing and distributing firms in Auckland are: A. B. Donald, Ltd., Turners and Growers, Ltd., Radley and Company, Ltd., W. H. Grove and Son, Jagger and Harvey, Ltd., and Perkins and Sons, Ltd.

- In any scheme for the control of importations, the Government’s operations will be widespread. At present bananas are imported from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands and sometimes from Norfolk Island, Australia, Jamaica, the Cook Islands, California, Japan, and Norfolk Island supply oranges. Before the embargo because of fruit fly, Palestine was also a supplier. Mandarins come chiefly from Australia, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, and grapefruit from California, Jamaica, and Australia. “I am not in a position yet to make a statement," said Mr. F. R Picot, Director of Internal Marketing, when questioned on the possibility of the Government taking control of the importation of fruit. He said that there was a move on the part of the Government to control a certain line only of fruit coming to the Dominion, but he could not say anything further, as the details were not quite completed. He refused to give any indication about the time when control was likely to come into effect.

The action by the Government represents the extension of importing control, for it took over the importation of Cook Island oranges last season and it controls the importation and distribution of Samoan bananas. '

The opinion is expressed in the trade that some firms, because of the Government’s control, will lose 50 per cent, of their financial returns. Some Auckland firms, apart from their long association with the importation of fruit, will suffer much because their business extends over the whole of the Dominion. There is no intention of the Government to give compensation to the importing firms. Soon after the granting of the mandate for Samoa, the State purchased bananas from the natives. In the early stages it brought the bananas to New Zealand, and the bananas Were distributed through the ordinarytrade channels. Later the distribution was made the subject of tenders, but last year the Government changed the system, one firm handling the cargoes.