PRICE OF ORANGES IN SOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 7

PRICE OF ORANGES IN SOUTH

BLAME PLACED UPON MONOPOLY. STATEMENTS AT INVERCARGILL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. The latest phase in the public agitation about the price and supply of Australian oranges was the presence of Mr. C. B. Tapley, president of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, at a special meeting of the Invercargill ’Retail Fruiterers’ Association to-day. Mr. Tapley was invited to be present at the meeting in order that the association might have an opportunity of fully replying to Press statements made by him last week. It was declared by the retailers in the course of a long discussion that their losses through bad fruit were so high that in some cases they could make no profit on consignments. It was alleged by members that the retailers had been shown up in a bad light, whereas the retailers contended they were simply the victims of circumstances beyond their control. The loss through bad fruit was estimated at 30 per cent. -In the course of discussion Mr. Tapley said the export of South Australian oranges was in the hands of a monopoly which had caused high prices at Invercargill. Mr. Tapley said people were asking why oranges were still so dear in view of the fact that the embargo had been relaxed. The position needed clarifying and the general public did not realise that there was such a high percentage of loss. “I did not realise myself that the loss was so high,” said Mr. Tapley. “Thirty per cent, is a serious matter. A monopoly is at work and that is a serious thing for the Dominion. We must point out to the Government what a serious thing this is for the country. I hope before long that there will be a free and open market for oranges from South Australia and retailers will then reap a greater benefit than by the present restriction.” A retailer: We have been branded as profiteers. Mr. Tapley: Losses with fruit are so serious that it is plain the retailers are not to blame for the high prices. PRICE NOT EXCESSIVE. REPLY MADE BY GROWERS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Adelaide, Sept. 10. The secretary of the Murray Citrus Growers’ Co-operative Association, Mr. N. Underwood, said that Australian oranges were not being marketed in New Zealand at excessive prices. Mr. Underwood was replying to a statement reported to have been made in Wellington by the Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, Mr. R. H. Nesbitt, that oranges could be purchased in Australia at a tenth of the price charged in New Zealand.