’PRICE OF FRUIT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15236, 29 December 1942, Page 4

’PRICE OF FRUIT

INVESTIGATION SOUGHT Allegations against the Internal Marketing Division of profiteering in pineapples are contained in a statement on fruit prices and supplies issued by the Bureau Q f I m " porters. The Department is also criticised for failure to exploit opportunities for providing the public with plentiful fruit at reasonable prices. “The Government has told the public on many occasions that it is very anxious to supply cheap fruit to the public, and proof of this anxiety to please the public is shown by the latest order from the Price Tribunal fixing the price of bananas at 7d a lb. retail/’ says the bureau. “It is difficult to recall any period during the past seven or eight years vhen bananas were retailed at such a high figure. The fruit industry, under private control, with all its faults, was never guilty of charging such exorbitant prices.” Now that bananas are in such short supply, and oranges are unprocurable, adds the statement, it was hoped that some efforts would be made by the Government to arrange supplies of other fruit. Pineapples, for instance, are a line which are very much sought by the public in their fresh and canned form, and with supplies of canned pineapple practically off the market through the Japanese occupation of Malaya and the additional factor of shortage of supplies from Hawaii and Fiji, the Government would be expected to arrange for supplies as would compensate for the reduced stocks of canned fruit. Fresh pineapples are grown in large quantities in Fiji and Tonga, and supplies have been coming on to this market for many years in excellent condition. Pineapples are reasonably easy to carry from the Islands to New Zealand. and the modem fruit-carrying vessels trading between the Islands and New' Zealand are able to land their cargo in first class condition, so that there is practically no waste. Recent shipments have landed in perfect condition. “The prices charged for pineapples by the Internal Marketing Division should be the subject of some investigation, because it *s evident that the Government is taking for itself a very large margin of profit in the vicinity of 100 per cent.,” the statement continues. “It is understood that recent shipments from the Islands were purchased hv the Internal Marketing Division at a figure between 8s and 9s per case f.o.b. Island ports. Allowing for freight and war risk insurance, which, by the way, is carried by the Government itself, the landing cost into store in New Zealand should have been about 15s per case. During the last month fresh pineapples were sold by the auctioneering firms in Auckland at 30s per case, this price presumably being authorised and fixed by the Internal Marketing Division. “Even allowing for auctioneering charges the profit is still large and if it were made bv a private company it would be subject to severe excess profit tax. We think the public are justified in demanding from the Government a statement whether or not the price was fixed by the Price Tribunal, and. if so. who authorised the profit of 80 to 100 per cent., when in these times the legitimate trader is being forced by the Government to accept a write-up which represents such a small percentage on profit on numerous lines, many of which are reaching, the point where they are unprofitable to handle.”