FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 25

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

(By Cable),

The report of the Interstate Commission on the prices of fruit and vegetables says' that Sydney is far behind other Australian States and other countries in grading and packing, which showed unmistakable carelessness and absolute deceit. It still exists to a discreditable and damaging extent. The report gives instances, as, for example, by the loose repacking "of fruit. Some dealers filled four cases from the contents of three. There was no evidence to show that high prices are tha results of combines, but there was evidence of the fixation of the prices of potatoes and onions by a body of merchants, which had doubtless caused needlessly high prices. Reporting on the clothing trade, tha commission finds that the war years Lave been a time of high profits. In 1914 tha profits in this trade averaged 13 per cent., while in the next three years they ranged, from 25 to 39 per cent." The total capital of 22 clothing manufacturing fh'ms in 1914 was £1,440,000, while their total net profits for the following three years amounted to £1,197,000, or an average of 33£ per cent, per annum. Several othey similar instances of abnormal returns ara given. The report comments on the methods adopted to camouflage these high profits, and adds: "It is much to be re* gretted that the greater proportion of these excessive profits was derived during a period when England was supplying ths material for clothing for the soldiers, and also a period of grave danger and emer« gency." The report makes suggestions for tha Government regulation of prices and profits.

, Separate flights in one of the Now Zeafand Flying School's seaplanes were made in Auckland bjr the Hon. A. M. Myers /[Minister of Customs), and Mrs Myers on "□Tuesday. On each occasion tho machine

toured the harbour For about 20 minutes, and both passengers (says the Herald) expressed themselves as delighted with their experience. The Minister afterrrards inspected the aerodrome.