HIGH PRICES OF ORANGES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 September 1934, Page 8

HIGH PRICES OF ORANGES.

WHOSE THE RESPONSIBILITY?

LOSSES THROUGH BAD FRUIT A FACTOR

(By Telegrgph—Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Last Night.

The latest phase in the public agitation about the price and supply of Australian oranges' was the presence of Mr. C. B. Tapley, president of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, at a special meeting of the Invercargill Retail Fruiterers’ Association to-day. Mr. Tapley was invited 'to be present at the meeting in order that the association might have the opportunity of fully replying to Press statements niado 1 by him last week.

It was declared by the retailers in (ho course of a lengthy’dismission that their Josses through bad fruit were so high that in some cases thev could

make no profit ou'”consignmeuts. it was alleged by members that retailers hadbeen shown up in a bad light, whereas they contended they were simply the'victims of circumstances beyond their control. The loss through bad fruit,” was estimated at ill) per cent. In the course of the discussion Mr..' Tapley said that the export of South’ Australian oranges was in the hands of a monopoly which had caused high prices here. Mr, Tapley went on tosay that people were asking why oranges, were still so dear in view of the fact that the embargo had been relaxed. The position needed clarifying and the general public did not realise that there was such a high percentage of loss. ’’ “1 didn’t realise myself that the loss was so high,” said Mr. Tapley.. ‘‘Thirty per cent, is a serious matter,. A monopoly is at work and that is a serious thing for the Dominion. Wo must point out to the Government what a serious thing this is for the country. I hope before Jong that there will be a free and open market for oranges from South Australia and the retailerswill then reap a greater benefit than by the present restriction.” A retailer: Wc have been branded as

profiteers. ; Mr. Tapley; The Josses with fruit are so serious that it is plain the retailers are not to blame for the high prices.-

Australian Oranges Not Too

Dear

PRODUCER ANSWERS CRITIC

ADELAIDE, Sept. 10,

The secretary of the Murray Citrus Growers’ Co-operative Association, Miv N. Underwood, said that Australian oranges were not being marketed in New Zealand at excessive prices. Mr.. Underwood was replying to a statement reported to have been made by the Australian Trade Commissioner in. New Zealand, Mr. Nesbitt, in Wellington, that oranges could be purchased in Australia at one-tenth of the price charged in Now Zealand.