OUTLOOK POOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 3

OUTLOOK POOR

ORANGES AND BANANAS EFFECT OF SHIPPING POSITION Local fruit interests received a further setback this week when it was found that the Waitaki was still held up at Wellington. This steamer has still to call at Bluff before she returns to Melbourne, and it will be fully three to four weeks before she again comes to Dunedin. The Matua reached Auckland during the week, but reports indicate that it is very unlikely that any bananas will come south, owing to the ripeness of the fruit. The Matua 'will go into dock after discharge, so that the position in respect to bananas for Dunedin is even worse than that of oranges. Earlier reports and promises by the authorities nave given rise to false hopes, and instead of increased supplies’, the local market has had considerably fewer oranges and bananas than has been the case in previous years. These supplies have not been nearly sufficient, and have in no way been comparable with those of the pre-war years. Visitors to Wellington state that shops there have ample supplies of oranges, bananas, pineapples, and lemons. It is difficult to understand why supplies have not been diverted south in order to relieve the acute shortage here. More Grapefruit New Zealand grapefruit is now coming forward in better supply, the higher prices this month having encouraged growers to send them south. A few pears have been released. The only apples now on oiler are Stunners. The sizes of the Stunners are much smaller than those of other varieties, and owing to the shortage of apples retailers have had no option but to take a proportion of small sizes. The vegetable market shows little improvement, and retailers report a very quiet week, probably owing to the school holidays. Cabbage, both spring and Savoy, have been offering at low prices. Carrots, swedes, and parsnips all are in good supply. Choice quality cauliflower are realising satisfactory prices, and lettuce are in good supply at low values. Spinach is still in over-supply, and celery from Canterbury is lower in value. Range of Prices The following range of prices shows the rates that were ruling at the end of the week: — Apples: Stunners, 12s to ‘l2s 3d; other dessert, 14s Gd; cases extra. Pears, 19s a bushel case. Oranges: Sold out. Lemons: Sold out. Tree tomatoes, to Is 8d lb. Passion fruit, to 41s 6d a case. Chinese gooseberries, to 2s 4d lb. Cauliflowers: Choice, Gs to 12s a sack. Cabbage, to 4s a sack. Spring cabbage, 45s a*'case. Brussels sprouts, 2d to 4d lb. Lettuce, 2s to 3s a dozen. Carrots, to 5s a sugar bag. Parsnips ,to 8s a sugar bag. Pumpkins, 14s per cwt. Leeks, 4d to Gd a bundle. Swedes, 2s a sugar bag. Celery, Gs to 12s a dozen. Rhubbarb, Is Gd to Is 9d a bundle.