BUYING BANANAS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18510, 6 March 1930, Page 10

BUYING BANANAS

CHRISTCHURCH FRUITERERS AGGRIEVED. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 5. This morning the auctioneers at the Christchurch fruit markets decided to sell by auction the recently-arrived . shipment of bananas from Samoa and Nuie Island, instead of setting a fixed price as formerly. A large number of fruiterers combined and appointed one man to buy in each market, with a limit fixed. The buyer was unable to make purchases at his limits until the end of the sale. The fruiterers claim that new methods were being introduced since Turners and Growers, an Auckland firm, obtained control of the Maui Pomare shipments. They state that Turner’s and Growers accepted tender was 11/9 per case, plus freight, approximately 5/-. Retailers considered that reasonable prices were 23/- per case for Niue and 26/- for Samoan bananas of good quality, which they argue should have allowed ample profit. The retailers state that country orders were filled to-day at 29/- to 32/6 without apparent bids at auction. After this, local retailers bought 500 cases at their own fixed limits. The fruiterers complain generally against the Government allowing Auckland merchants to get control of fruit shipments by the Maui Pomare, and declare that a move to force up the price is one result of this control. On behalf of the auctioneers, it is contended that an auction sale is the fairest means of fixing a true market value. They deny that any arrangement was made with Auckland agents to fix the price of the fruit.