SAMOAN BANANAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 8

SAMOAN BANANAS

POSITION IN DUNEDIN WORSE THAN IN CHRISTCHURCH

Although, in common with the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association, it realises that there is a need for some change in the present system of supplying bananas, the Otago Retail Fruitgrowers’ Association has not yet taken any action in the matter, but it is probable that in the near future the position will be reviewed and the Government approached with a view to bringing about an improvement. According to prominent fruiterers, Dunedin appears to be in a worse position than Christchurch. It was stated yesterday that 75 per cent, of the bananas sold locally were Samoan bananas delivered from Christchurch, plus 2s 3d a case for freight and an additional 2d or 3d for cartage. When the Government inaugurated the direct service of the Maui Pomare it was intended that ample supplies of Samoan bananas would be available to the public at an acceptable price, but this intention had not been fulfilled. Tenders had beau called for the South Island shipments, and the Government protection of the Samoan contract had created the present unsatisfactory position by a restriction of other sources of supply. Retailers had paid up to 35s a case for the December shipment, and the January shipment had arrived on a bare market, with a ruling price of 2Gs a case. The public was entitled to an ample supply at a reasonable price, and the retailers were also entitled to a fair margin of profit on their sales. Ten years ago bananas were sold at half the price they realised to-day, the shortage of supplies bein'; partly responsible for the marked increase, AN AUCKLAND OPINION EXISTING TENDER SYSTEM UPHELD. (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, January 14.

According to local fruit merchants, the Christchurch banana boycott is not likely to have any effect in Auckland. It was explained that the whole of the South Island supply is drawn from Samoa, with the exception of a small quantity from the Cook Islands, whereas Auckland’s bananas come from Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. The Samoan bananas are imported on a Government contract similar to that operating in the South Island, while the Tongan Government lets a contract for the shipment of bananas from that group. The Fijian fruit, on the other hand, is sold on open consignment. One Auckland merchant, who has had experience with the southern contract, said that the Christchurch suggestion that the whole of the Maui Pomare’s cargo should be sold in the South Island was impracticable. The quantity was greater than the market could absorb in certain months, and it would be impossible to get firms to contract under such conditions. The suggestion that the Maui Pomare’s bananas should not be sold in Wellington involved a restraint of trade and was not in the public interest.

The present tender system, the merchant said, had been proved by the Government to be the best. The Government had done what it had been asked: it had given the South Island a supply of bananas for the whole year. A shortage was natural in the first two months of the year, as the hot weather created a demand, but it was difficult to sell bananas in the south during the winter.