PRICE REGULATIONS, FOR ORANGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 23 December 1936, Page 8

PRICE REGULATIONS, FOR ORANGES

RETAILERS RESENT MINISTER’S COMMENT (United Press; Association) DUNED.IN,..22nd December. : Resentment of the Minister’s comment that rfetailers were not .complying with the price regulations for oranges was expressed by Mr Newall, secretary of the retailfruiterers, who pointed out that instead of removing the ban on Australian supplies as requested the Government instead gave special permission to certain New Zealand brokers- to import specified quantities. The retailers considered that since they had opehly to notify the public, of the cost of oranges and their profit margin it was reasonable for the-importers to also publish their costs and margin of profit. Retailers were expected to sell oranges in some cases below cost. Mr Newall said that Jamaican oranges provided a glaring example. The Government had fixed the retail price at such a margin that loss was inevitable. It was well known that these oranges cost under 19s to land, and the fixed wholesale puice being 32s 6d, it appeared that the importers were not working at a loss. The figures provided by the Minister showed varying margins of profit to retailers of 21s Gd to Gs a case, but as the supply allowed only one case per retailer the law of averages did not work. Mr Newall showed one case of 176 oranges, in which 31 were unsaleable. He stated, 100, that the Government inspector had certified 69 wasty fruits in a case of 200 Jamaican oranges.