ORANGE FAMINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 8

ORANGE FAMINE

t HIGH PRICES PAID Embargo Creates Monopoly REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT [ Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 24. The high price of oranges in Christchurch and their short supply have produced a situation which is rapidly developing. A deputation will wait on the acting-Minister of Customs, Hon. M. Fagan, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, at Wellington tomorrow. A consumers’ petition of protest has been signed by a large number of people and a boycott of this week’s Jamaican shipment has been discussed. By these means Christchurch retail fruiterers are actively pursuing a campaign to secure an official investigation of the position. They contend that besides creating a shortage, the embargo on Australian oranges has, in effect, created a monopoly. A telegram was sent to-day to Mr. Sullivan by some retailers stating that there was an orange famine in Christchurch and that the shipment on Thursday realised the prohibitive price of 44s a case. They suggested that the Government should commandeer the new shipment due this week and distribute it to retailers and fix the price. Mr. Sullivan has replied that he will be pleased to give the suggestion full consideration. Endeavours have been made Io obtain a meeting of retailers and get them to agree to refuse to buy when the new shipment comes on the market this week. Many fruiterers favour the suggestion of a boycott but unity has not yet been achieved. The retail price of Jamaica oranges, which are small, only two inches, is 3d each or four a shilling, and at this price the public’s purchases have been greatly restricted. Mr. Savage’s Assurance. An assurance that steps would be taken to relieve the orange shortage if the Government found such action necessary, was given by the Prime Minister, Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview by telephone this evening. Mr. Savage was told that the situation in Christchurch was so bad that oranges were retailing at 3d and 4d each and that in the South Island the available supply for the next three weeks amounted only to 650 cases a 1 week compared with 4000 cases a week available to Christchurch alone: when there was no embargo on Australian imports. “It is the first I have | heard of any serious shortage,’’ the I Prime Minister remarked, "but you ■ can take it from me that if there is [ a shortage of those proportions and if the people are being deprived of [ oranges then we will try to alter it. ; If there is something the Government | can do to relieve such a shortage as j is claimed to exist then it will be : done.’' Mr. Savaee would not comment in '

MT. oavage WOUIU nut cuiiniieiiL 1. the meantime on the suggestion fror Christchurch buyers that there shoul be at least a temporary relaxing o the import restrictions, but he pro mised that he would see the Ministe interested immediately. An investiga tion would be made of the allege' shortage and if the Governmen agreed that any action was necessar the requisite steps would be taken. PRICES AT WELLINGTON UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH t Per Pret-s Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. Unexpectedly high prices were paid for Jamaican oranges sold at auction in Wellington to-day. The average price was in the neighbourhood of £3 a case, which means that retail prices will he increased, as no more oranges are due until after Christmas. A further advance is possible. A merchant, interviewed, said that in the past Jamaican oranges had been sold at the fixed price of 27s 6d a case, but the latest shipment had been a small one aggregating only 2000 cases, of which 800 came to Wellington. The latest shipment of South Australian oranges had alsc been short, so that the market was not well supplied. In view of the position the merchants decided to put the Jamaican oranges under the hammer. ORANGE SHORTAGE MINISTER'S PROPOSALS {Per Pres? Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. Interviewed to-night regarding the shortage of oranges and the position which has arisen over the price for this fruit, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, stated that he and departmental officer*had been giving concentrated attention to this problem. He had been In telephonic communication with the fruit interests throughout the Dominion. Following these consultations the Minister proposes to submit for consideration of Cabinet to-mor-row certain proposals for dealing with the situation.