FRUIT MARKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 121, 25 May 1938, Page 7

FRUIT MARKET

THE STATE’S ACTIVITIES MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM [ Per Prcaa /.nocution. I WELLINGTON. May 24. “It is difficult to believe that the retailor .should contend that lhe ruling prices for bananas and oranges in Auckland are excessive under the ,t--gulated market or tha* both liuve fruits are dearer to-day than they have been for some years,” said the Minister of Marketing, Hon. W. Na.d\ this evening, commenting on an Auckland complaint. “There arc no grounds for the •.>• sort ion that prices have been nernntted to soar at auction under the Government's scheme of regulation and retailers have been placed in a false position with the public because people do not appreciate the hiqii prices paid by fruiterers and therefore expect cheap fruit." said Mr Nash. “It can be and has been definitely proven that prices of bananas in Auckland this year have b?cn on a cheaper level than previously, due largely to the fact that sine? tin Government took over in Ap.il Giia year the total quantity o. bananas imported into this countly has been considerably increased as compared with last year’s ligures. “The position concerning the ship* ment of Cook Islands oranges which arrived on May 4 by the Matua is perfectly clear and simple, instructions were issued by the Director of Internal Marketing, who paid a special visit to Auckland in connection with the shipment, that the fruit vr.; to be sold not in excess of prices indicated by him. One firm in Auckland contended that they misinterpreted the instructions as to prices. It was a surprise to the department to learn yesterday that a small quantity ol Mangaian oranges had been ohered under the hammer in the morning oy that firm and that throe cases v.-erg sold at 29s 3d a case while the balance of 26 cases were sold a* pricey below and above that rate and ranging down to 19s. Many thousand cases of Cook Islands were imported this month and three only were : ola at the high price mentioned and every case other than the 26 ret erred to h.ts been sold at the prices arranged by the Government.” Mr Nash explained that as Iho prices charged by one firm were contrary to instructions, the Director of Internal Marketing had immediately advised the firm definitely and emphatically that on no condUon wci<f any further quantities to be offered at prices other than those fixed. “An Auckland complainant. Mr Coleman, also reierrod to the nonimportation of Australian oranges," Mr Nash continued. “While snail shipments of Australian oranges haw:, in the past, been imported into New Zealand during May, it is well recognised in the trade that such cany shipments have a detrim nt al off ct on the market, here owing t> ih<ir lack of sweetness. Aecordin iy, ai« rangements were made wh e'y, ».aporters could continu ■ >o inv.o.t Californian orange., wh e i • pc. ular and sweet-tasting at i.:.i u time of the year. In order, however, to gu lantee that the public would be assured of procuring Californian oranges at reasonable prices, a small shipm< nt by way of reserve was rc< i iy imported into the Dominion by the department. importers strongly advocated that the immediate rn r'. ting of these oranges would involve thci.i in serious financial loss ‘s an 1 accai dingly the department un io.’V ok nut to release the* shipment until the end of this month Th? fir t sh prr.cn* of Australian oranges is l??vmg Australia for the Dominion next week, ti a quantities being imported from that source being adequate to ensure that the fruit will be sold at reasonably prices. | “Dealing with the question of tha high prices obtaining for ripe bananas, we cannot d:.‘.pu f ? the t ' that for a riduculously small proportion of the total shipment prices have soaxed above what the Government considered to be a reasonable value,” s<.id Mr Nash. “When this was poin ■•<l out to the Director of Intern j Marketing. however. immediate acl.oii was taken to avoid a recurrence of the trouble and instructions hive uec.i issued to the distributors ccnce: nc<l that in future the price of iipy bananas shall be based on tae original green ex-wharf prices nil's out-of-pocket expenses for ripening ano oin?r incidental costs. “Tlie ony step which the Gove;n« ment has taken in connection v.m the marketing and distribution ot imported fruits has been endorsed by L.a fruit retailers and public generally, and it is difficult tounderstand wny such a statement should be made oy, a representative of that section of the trade which has so strongly au-< vocated Government regulation ofi marketing of these fruits. The we have taken has already bec.i* amply justified, especially consideringthe fact that the scheme has only recently been introduced.”