PRICE OF BANANAS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 308, 29 December 1937, Page 11

PRICE OF BANANAS

growers dissatisfied government control hoped FOR. The correspondent of the United Press Association, writing from P.arotonga, states that concern was evident in Rarotonga when it was known that New Zealand merchants were offering only 5s a case in the wharf sheds for bananas due to arrive in New Zealand in the Matua during the Christmas holidays. The price offered would return growers 2s a case for their fruit delivered to the wharf. The natives refused to ship, notwithstanding the fact that the continuance of the call of the Matua at Rarotonga depends on fruit shipment. The Resident Commissioner called a meeting of the interested parties and as a result the buying agents for New Zealand merchants undertook to forgo their buying commission and even advance 6d a case in the hope of recovering it from their principals. The Administration agreed to forgo certain inspection and other fees which, with traders’ concessions, brought the price to growers to 3s a case. In most districts the growers responded well. The hope is freely expressed in the Cook Islands that the Government will take over the control of bananas similar to the control of oranges, which proved of great benefit to the native grower. The fruit shipped in the Matua comprised 3739 cases of bananas, 139 sacks of coconuts, 35 boxes of ar;’ 25 cases of pineapples.