Shortage of Lemons To be Relieved

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 110, 12 May 1939, Page 8

Shortage of Lemons To be Relieved

AUSTRALIAN SUPPLY Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. An assurance mat me acute lemon shortage causing prices to soar in all parts of New Zealand would be relieved .iext week by an Australian shipment and within a fortnight with the first of ihe Dominion crop was given by the Director of Internal Marketing, Mr F. R. Picot. Christchurch retailers have for some time complained of a shortage which sent the retail price to three and four a shilling. The demand for lemons was recently accentuated because of their medicinal value in checking influenza. The Internal Marketing Department was accused of under-importing and of allowing the price to become too high. Californian lemons in recent shipments have been of poor quality, more than half in some cases being waste. Mr Picot said that a shortage was usually met with at this time of the year because of the change-over from Californian to New Zealand supplies. The shortage had been made more acute by the lateness of the New Zealand 6eason. The department did not want to import unduly, as It was felt that the shortage would quickly be relieved. Government lemons would not be ready for eight or ten days, perhaps a fortnight. Lemons would be arriving from Australia within a week to tide the markets over the most difficult period. He could not say what size the shipment would be, but it would be ample, nor could he say what price New Zealand or Australian lemons would be. Both varieties would be considerably cheaper than prices now ruling. Last season’s Dominion lemon crop was a bumper one, but this year the crop was on the light side. Nevertheless there would be ample to meet domestic requirement*.