£7000 Profit on Jap Onions

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 175, 27 July 1939, Page 6

£7OOO Profit on Jap Onions

At Expense of Dominion’s Housewives

ANOTHER ADDITION TO COST OF LIVING Ter Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 2G. At the expense of housewives throughout New Zealand the Government is expected to make a largo profit on the shipment of Japaneso onions which urrived by tho Naniwa Maru on Saturday. Provided the entisc quantity is disposed of tho Government should show a clear gaiu of about £7OOO. The prices to storekeepers have Leen fixed at 22s a crate of one hundredweight, or £22 a ton. The general opinion in Auckland is that the shipment of 725 tons was landed by' tho Internal Marketing Department at from £8 10s to £l2 a ton, including duty und all freight churgcs. Storekeepers and merchants have beeu kept in the dark as to the actual purchase price, but it is obvious that a handsome profit is being made. No figures were made public by tho Director of Internal Marketing (Mr. F, R. Picot) who left Auckland for Wellington to-day after transacting business in connection with the onion shipment. Taking tho purchase price at a conservative estimate of £l2 a ton landed in New Zealand, tho Government is making a profit of £lO a ton ih selling the Japanese onions to consumers at £22 a ton, thus adding another burden to the housewife in her purchase of a valuable winter food. Assuming that the entire shipment is sold in spite of the boycott imposed by Chinese fruiterers and many Europeans, the Government should show a gain of about £7OOO. It has been stated that the Japanese shipments are distributed only where necessary. Rup plies of onions from Pukekohe and surrounding districts are now coming in freely to the local market and can be obtained for £2O to £2l a ton. Alternatively, Californian onions may be purchased for 24s a bag of 100 lb. New Zealand onions arc still being shipped to Australia in execution of contracts made several months ago. Heavy exports have been leaving New Zealand since early this year.