ONIONS FROM CANADA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21919, 1 October 1934, Page 12

ONIONS FROM CANADA

■ • \i.'--r ,:....;! . PUKEKOHE GROWERS" ALARM STOCKS IN COLD STORE ' ■ * ■ -J 3. . :•> "•* [WOJr OTJS OWN COB,RESPONDENT] / PUKEKOHE, Saturday The expected arrival on Monday of ft shipment of Canadian onions in Auckland is a cause cf concern to Pulrokohe growers, who are at present holding about 30(X) crates (150 tons) of onions in cool store at Southdown and who have from 200 to 250 tons of good onions stored in sheds on their farms. The president of the Franklin Produce Growers' Association, Mr. P. A. Miller, said to-day that he understood most, of the Canadian shipment was already sold at 13s per cwt., whereas the local supplies, which were of as good, or perhaps better, quality, were offered at lis pur cwt. The growers had gone to expense to place their onions in cool titom an.d it- now appeared that the onions would be unsaleable. Last year local onions were put into cool store for the first timo in Wellington, and when they were put on ,the market, the demand was found to be in Auckland. This year the Farmers' Freezing Company had erected a cool store at Southdown and 210 tons were put in there, of which about 60 tons had bean sold so far. It was now found that there was some demand in Wellington, but practically none in Auckland. The price in Wellington was £l2 per ton, but on each ton expenses totalled £lO 12s lOd. Mr. Miller said he considered. that £2OOO or £3OOO was going to Canada, instead of to local growers. The Auckland cool store bad been used this year instead of one in Wellington, as there was a saving in freight and other charges of aboat £1 14s 6d per ton if the supplies could have been disposed ox in Auckland. The present position did not give a very bright outlook for the next season, an there were about 6000 tons coining on in the district. The import of onionn should be subject to control by the Government, which could refuse to issue t. permit for importing n it was satisfied the quantity and quality of local blocks was sufficient tor tlie demand.