VEGETABLE PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24127, 20 November 1941, Page 10

VEGETABLE PRICES

CASE FOR AUCTIONEERS EFFECT OF HOME GARDENING ESTIMATES OF PLANTINGS [BY TELEGRAPH —PEESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Tlie case for the auctioneers and merchants was presented to the Price Tribunal to-day at the inquiry into the price of vegetables. "No Government, merchants or growers' organisation could have seen in sufficient time the development of the present situation, and so have appreciably altered it," said Mr. Arundel Turner, of Auckland, on behalf of the New Zealand Fruit Merchants and Auctioneers' Federation. Mr. Turner suggested that consideration of the following points would assist in overcoming similar future difficulties:—The making available of frequent accurate information of plantings and intended plantings, with comparative figures for the previous year; the < making available of adequate supplies of suitable manures; provision lor suitable labour; intensified research into plant disease and pest control as affecting vegetables; the importation and distribution of suitable seeds; where necessary to implement labour, the provision of light farm machinery. Mr. A. Jacobs, president of the federation, said it was unecomonic prices in one season 'which led to a shortage and high prices in succeeding years. The "dig for victory" campaign in 1940 had this effect. Suburban gardeners responded to the appeal to such an extent that during the height of the season many lines could hardly he given away, and the loss to producers was serious. Commercial growers, unable to judge whether this campaign would be repeated, were probably conservative in their plantings of vegetables which could readily he grown by the suburban gardener. The auction system had stood the test of years. Charges now made for selling were exactly the same as in 1936, in spite of many increases in costs.