PRICE OF ORANGES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3176, 30 September 1942, Page 5

PRICE OF ORANGES

(To The Editor) Sir, —May I be granted enough space in your valuable paper wherein to voice my protest as regards the abnormally high' price at which . oranges are being retailed to the public. I was shown three oranges to-day which, according to the purchaser, cost her 3d each. I was absolutely shocked at the news. Being experienced in the wholesale f fruit trade- I knew that the price’ was far too excessive. I. estimated that the oranges in question were of a count of 200 or perhaps 216. . They were no larger. This count, even at the worst stage of toe citrus fruits sea-, son, is retailed at twopence each. I feel certain that the Price Tribunal ■has not fixed the extra high price on the fruit. The Internal. Marketing •division should be in a position to act and by so doing help the ignorant ' householder and check the 100 1 per cent, profit fruiterer. —I am, etc., HOUSEWIFE.. • Paeroa, 29/9/42.

NOTE: When this question was referred (o a grocer who is at present selling oranges at 3d each he ox-j plained that the oranges were of a size giving I'so count to the case. The price fixed for oranges on a count of I'so to the case, based on the present-day wholesale cost is 3s per dozen retail. The grocer explained that the present oranges were repacks on which a premium is charged ranging up to 2s 6d per case. —Editor.