FRUIT SCARCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 December 1936, Page 3

FRUIT SCARCE

FROST SPOILS CROPS IMPORTATIONS TOO LIGHT (United Press Association) % WELLINGTON, 19th December. This Christmas there is . going to be a, shortage of all lines of fruits, especially imported fruits such as oranges and pineapples, .according to an official in one of the, Wellington-mar-kets. The arrangemerits in connection with the importation -of oranges, he said, were unsatisfactory so far as riierchants arid retailers were concerned. Had the Government, when lifting the embargo, advised the merchants who were handling oranges that they could import enough fruit for their requirements,' prices would not have been unusually high and all the shops would have been able to obtain supplies. At the present time supplies were not one-tenth of what was required, and merchants, retailers, and the public were suffering. This year, he continued, merchants were missing the fruit supplies from Hawkes Bay. Many of the growers, who nprmally would have had thousands of cases on the market from nov, onwrads, had consigned very few or none owing to the fruit having been destroyed by a late frost. The markets, therefore, were deoending chiefly on Nelson and Otago for supplies of stone fruits. Peaches were very scarce, only a few cases'coming forward from Otago and Canterbury. These were realising more than double the price usually obtained at this time of the year. Early plums were also scarce, rriost of the supplies at the present time coming from the Thames district. Old season apples were easier in values. Some Of the growers were inclined to hold their stocks too long, a lot of the fruit in the meantime deteriorating. Otago cherries had been selling at higher prices than Usual, and it was anticipated that prices would be high throughout the holiday period. The poultry market this 3'ear has been very busy, the ruling prices being higher than usual. Vegetables generally, except perhaps cabbages, have been in rather short supply, prices recently showing sharp advances. However, it is anticipated that better supplies of vegetables will be coming to hand from now on.

Onions have been particularly scarce, but supplies are anticipated from Pukekohe to relieve the position New potatoes are in full supply.