NO ORANGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 6

NO ORANGES

CITY SHOPS BABE STATE POLICY ATTACKED TRADERS WANT OLD SYSTEM Not one orange could be purchased in Queen Street yesterday, and telephone inquiries made to almost 20 fruiterers in the suburbs elicited the same information, that none vere available. Other shops had small quantities at about 4d each. One city fruiterer who*" has occupied the same stand for 12 years said he had never before been without oranges. Others agreed it was unprecedented, and criticism of the Government was ' reelv voiced for allowing such an unsatisfactory position to arise. standing in a fruit shop in Queen Street yesterday, an observer counted 1- people who asked for oranges, and left the shop without purchasing anything. The owner said that at least 50 people came in every hour inquiring for oranges. Caustic Comments Mads r J he very mention of oranges in every shop was enough to bring worried and exasperated looks from the assistants. It was difficult after 12 years to tell steady customers that there was not one orange in the shop. Although most purchasers were aware that this was the fault of the Internal Marketing Division, which controls the fruit, the fact remained that there were no oranges, and shopkeepers liavi? become used to disappointed and often caustic remarks. "I do not know how we arfe goinor to carry on at this rate," said one wellestablished fruiterer. "We cannot get enough fruit from the Government to pay our overhead expenses. What we have is so dear that people only bu\ the minimum. It was never like thi< before the Government stepped in. I wish they would realise their inefficiency and let us get back to the old system, when there was more fruit at cheaper prices." Invalids and people on diets are only a few who suffer needlessly from the present absence of oranges. New Zealand grapefruit are available, but wholesale prices have almost doubled. Retail values range from 3d to 4d each, with occasional extra,- large fruit as much as 6d. Lemons >and Bananas Dear Lemons are selling at 2d each, and shopkeepers are outspoken in their comments on the poor quality offering, many stating that they were the worst they had ever handled. It was claimed that the lemons were not cured, merely being washed and put through a process to colour them. Bananas are selling at 6d to 8d per lb. and eating pears at about 8d per lb. It was stated that apples were about the only cheap fruit. Fruiterers are being placed in a difficult position, and matters are not improved by the announcement by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, that full supplies of oranges would not be available for the next six weeks. It is held there is no reason for this gap in supplies, even taking the shortage of shipping into consideration. Allegations of Hoarding It was also alleged that the Internal Marketing Division had held heavy stocks of Australian oranges in store until Island supplies had been disposed of. Instead of releasing them to the public and lowering prices, the oranges were held until a large proportion became bad. "It is a nice state of affairs." summed up one retailer. "Both the fruiterers and the public are at the mercy of the Government, whose inefficiency and lack of knowledge is becoming proverbial."