LEMON SHORTAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 May 1939, Page 7

LEMON SHORTAGE

ASSURANCE OF EARLY RELIEF STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL MARKETING AUSTRALIAN SHIPMENT (United PreßS Association) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. An assurance that the acute lemon shortage causing prices to soar in all parts of New Zealand would be relieved next week by an Australian shipment, and within a fortnight with the first of the Dominion crop, was given by the Director of Internal Marketing (Mr Picot).

Christchurch retailers have for some time complained of the shortage which sent the retail price to three and four a shilling. The demand for lemons has been recently accentuated because of their medicinal value in checking influenza. The Internal Marketing Department has been accused of underimporting, and of allowing the price to become too high. Californian lemons in recent shipments have been of poor quality, more than half of some cases being waste. Mr Picot said that the shortage usually met with at this time of the year because of the change-over from Californian to New Zealand supplies, had been made more acute by the lateness of the New Zealand season. 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 the New Zealand or Australian lemons would be. Both varieties would be considerably cheaper than the prices now ruling. Last season’s Dominion lemon crop was a bumper one, but this year the crop was on the light side. Nevertheless it would be ample to meet domestic requirements.