FRUIT PRICE CONTROLS

Grey River Argus, 1 February 1944, Page 3

FRUIT PRICE CONTROLS

MINISTER’S COMMENT. I • P.A. WELLINGTON, Jan 31. “It is difficult to see how controls I which prevent fruiterers paying higher prices can threaten them with ruin,” said the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan) in commenting ■oh statements made by Christchurch fruiterers advocating the relaxation of price controls. “Certain Christchurch fruiterers, I understand, complain of the ‘shocking condition’ in which stone fruit are arriving on the Christchurch auction market, there to be brought by fruiterers at ceiling wholesale prices. If the fruit is in this condition and fruiterers are losing on their purchases through buying at limit prices then the fault lies with the growers for packing fruit in an unsatisfactory condition, 1 and with the retailers Slading up to i the ceiling. Price control.*..do. not ; prevent anybody from buying or sell- ' ing below the limit price,” The Minister pointed out that, the Internal Marketing Division had no [Control over.the marketing of stone fruit. He added that relaxin-’- con- | trol over the prices .of peaches : and apricots would merely allow 1 both wholesale and retail prices to go higher, with benefit neither to ; the fruiterer nor to the customer, i and asked would the fruit be any | less bad if the fruiterer were allow--led to pa v more and charge more.