PRODUCE HANDLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1942, Page 4

PRODUCE HANDLING

DISTRIBUTORS COMBINE ECONOMICAL DELIVERY TO RETAILERS. OVERLAPPING CUT OUT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Recognising the position brought about by shortage of petrol, the impressment of motor vehicles and a heavy call on manpower, a number of firms have agreed to set aside their own interests and form an association of combined distributors incorporating Ihe wholesale handlers of butter, cheese, eggs and other produce to retail and other distributors. The firms are the National Dairy Association, the Internal Marketing Division, J. B. McEwan and Co., J. Nathan and Co., Dominion Distributors, Produce Traders, Turners and Growers, J. C. Hutton, Meadows and Son. The action taken involves a sacrifice of goodwill built up over a great many years and the trademarks of individual brands and lines handled, and the severing for the time being of long-established and valued connections with retail distributors. The combination of interests was discussed by those concerned and then with the Minister of Marketing, on December 16, and came into operation six days later. Some inconvenience to retailers was inevitable while the scheme was being got under way, but this is disappearing and the service, it is stated, will now be prompt and efficient. Combined Distributors, is a stated will not be a Government organisation, although the Internal Marketing Division is associated. Its object is solely to meet the emergency conditions by economic use of such petrol, vehicles and manpower and as are available, and the cutting out of overlapping of every description. Mr Colin Munro, of J. C. Hutton and Co., is chairman.