ISLAND FRUIT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 70, 6 March 1930, Page 8

ISLAND FRUIT

ALLEGED FORCING UP OF PRICES. [Per Prese Association.) Christchurch, March 5. This morning the auctioneers at the Christchurch fruit markets decided to sell by auction a recently arrived shipmgit of bananas from Samoa and Niue Island, instead of setting a fixed price, as formerly. A large number of fruiterers combined and appointed one man to buy in each market with a limit fixed. The buyer was unable to make purchases at his limits until the end of the sale.

The fruiterers claim that new methods are being introduced since Turners and Growers, an Auckland firm, obtained control of Maui Pomare shipments. They state that Turners and Growers’ accepted tender was 11/9 per case, plus freight, approximately 5/t. Retailers considered reasonable prices were 23/per case for Niue and 26/- for Samoan bananas of good quality, which, they argue, should have allowed ample profit. Retailers state that country orders were filled to-day at prices from 29/to 32/6 without apparent bias at auction. After this local retailers bought 500 cases at their own fixed limits. Fruiterers complain generally against the Government allowing Auckland merchants to get control of fruit shipments by the Maui Pomare and declare that the move to force up the price is one result of this control.

On behalf of the auctioneers, it is contended that the auction sale is the fairest means of fixing the true market value. They deny anv arrangement with Auckland agents to fix the price of fruit.