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Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 February 1921, Page 3

There is one outstanding feature in the wholesale fruit market (writes the Auckland correspondent of the Times)—a glut of tomatoes, the season having produced just double last year’s crop. The result is that cases of this fruit are selling ; n Auckland at prices ranging from 1/6 to 2/6 each. It would appear as if the crop ripened at the on© time throughout the whole province. Consignments are coming to hand from outside districts such as Whangarei, Cambridge, Hamilton, and Dargaville, where, in past years, the fruit was distributed. The statement of the Minister of Finance (Mr Massey) at Christchurch on the condition of the public accounts is about as good reading- as could be hoped for. The off-setting of the £6,060,000 drop in wool prices by an almost equal increase from dairy , produce Is good as far as jt goes, and it is also encouraging to hear that by the end of March £24,000,000 will have been paid) off the war debt. Those who ar© already suffering from the money tightness will he glad to know that it is not proposed to increase taxation. The now arrangements regarding the sinking fund have saved the taxpayers , £260,000 this year*, and other economies have been effected making a total saving of half a million a year. It will all .he needed, and more. The national debt is still about £200,000,060, for a population of one and oquarter millions, and though, as Mr Massey shows, the State has good assets against this liability, every possible economy will have to be effected for the next few yearfi. Retrenchment is not a pleasant thing, but it -s .equally necessary to-day in State and private finance.