BANANA PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25050, 14 November 1944, Page 6

BANANA PRICES

• DOMINION SUPPLIES r— —■ REPLY MADE TO CRITICISM (P.A.) WELLINGTON". Monday "In view of numerous references in the press, as well as reports of questions in Parliament in connection with the apparent disparity in the prices of bananas in the Islands and to the New Zealand consumer, I feel that a short statement on the facts would clear up a lot of the misapprehension," said the Minister of Marketing, Mr Roberts. : "In the first place," he continued, "it has been stated that the Marketing Division pays 5s a case for bananas in tho Islands. The facts are that the division pays the following prices f.o.b. Island ports: Samoa, 12s 9d a case; Fiji, 12s 4id (New Zealand currency); and Tonga, 12s Id. These are the prices which are determined between the division and the selling authorities in the various islands. All Available Supplies

"It is quite well known that, with the Pacific war, the availability of shipping for bananas and oranges is at a minimum, but the division does import into New Zealand every case of bananas that it is possible to procure from the Islands. It is also a fact that the only shipping point of import for bananas is Auckland, and if other parts of New Zealand are to have a share of the now reduced supplies the division has to incur. heavy costs in distributing the fruit on a per capita basis, as far south as Invercargill. "Not. only are the costs heavy, but, owing to transport conditions, decay and depreciation of the fruit are unavoidable, all of which is a cost to the division. Actually the into-store costs at the main centres, apart from the distribution in country areas, are:— Auckland: Fijian, 17s lid: Tongan, 18.:; Sainoan, 18s fld. Wellington: 20s lid, 21s 9d, 21s 9d. Christchurch: 23s lOd, 24s 3d, 255. Dunedin: 265, 26s sd, 27s 3d. The Division's Margin

"The wholesale price at all these centres is 255, except in Dunedin, whero it is 25s 6d for a case of approximately 801b of green fruit, from which the distributors are allowed a commission of 2s 6d (10 per cent) per case, leaving a net return to the division of 22s 6d, out of which all losses in transit must come. .. _

"From this summary," Mr Roberts concluded, "it will be seen that, in order to implement tho policy of sharing fruit equally to all parts of New Zealand, the price of 25s a case (which is a maximum one only) does not leave any undue margin for the division. I am sure a perusal of these figures will make it plain that the criticism of undue profits cannot be sustained." RADIO IN PARLIAMENT VIEWS OF THE SPEAKER TRIBUTE TO THE PRESS The view that the system of broadcasting Parliamentary proceedings, as far as debates in the House were concerned, was here to stay was expressed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives the Hon. F. W. Schramm, in an address at the Rotary Club luncheon yesterday. He considered New Zealand had gone a little too far by broadcasting all debates instead of only matters taken in the House. Those held in committee should not be broadcast. Mr Schramm pointed out that with matters taken in committee the proceedings were snappy, feeling often ran high and there were a lot of interjections. He did not think the broadcasting system gave a fair presentation of what happened in Parliament. The microphones were very sensitive and picked up the slightest sound, but he understood that the system was going to bp improved by technicians. Tho New Zealand Parliament was the only one in the world where debates were broadcast and he hoped the system would be tried in other countries so that a real test could be made. Mr Schramm said he always tried to uphold freedom of speech in debate. The job had to be done without fear or favour, affection or ill-will for the satisfaction of the members of the House and the members of the community. After pointing out that he deemed it his duty to carry out his work in accordance with the traditions laid-down by Speakers of the House of Commons and New Zealand Speakers, Mr Schramm recalled that when he was elected Speaker it was suggested that he should throw aside the wig and gown and he replied that a barrister had to wear a wig and gown when he went to the Supreme Court and it should continue to be worn in the House. It was traditional and he would not dispense with the wig and gown. Members of the Press Gallery, 6aid the Speaker, had <Jone a very fine job. He did not think anything of importance said in the House was missed by them and the best valuation of a speech could bo given by members of tne Press Gallery. He thought the newspapers had done fine work and he had no complaint with the way they reported Parliamentary debates. CONVERSION OF CAR PRISON FOR MAORI YOUTH Pleading guilty to a charge of converting a motor-car, a 17-year-old Maori youth. John Rakete, was .sentenced to five weeks' imprisonment bv Mr W. C. Harley. S.M., in Whangarei today. On charges of stealing ignition keys and of attempting to convert a motor vehicle, Rakete was convicted and discharged. Sub-Inspector A. Henderson stated that early in the morning of November 6 accused stole a set of ignition keys from the Whangarei Dairy Company's premises and then endeavoured to start one of the company's vehicles. Unable to do this, ho started to walk to Wiiipu. where he was employed as a farm labourer. At Otaika he took a motor-car parked on the side of the road and drovo to Waipu, where he was arrested by Constable Rimmer. ■Rakete had previously boon committed to the caro of the Child Welfare Officer.