DEALING IN FRUIT.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19461, 28 December 1934, Page 6

DEALING IN FRUIT.

BUYERS’ BOYCOTT. FRICTION IN CHRISTCHURCH, SELLING CHANGES SOUGHT, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. With the object of forcing certain changes in the system under which, fruit is sold by auction in Christchurch, members of the recently-formed Buyers' Association launched a boycott against one broking firm this morning. It is the intention of the association to direct a boycott against each firm in turn. _ Two policemen stood outside the premises, having been summoned by the firm manager. It is stated that one policeman at the request of the manager escorted the secretary of the Buyers’ Association from the auction room after the man 'had been asked three times to leave. The buyers stated that the trouble went back to the handling of Austral- -J ian oranges, concerning which it is alleged the brokers let the buyers down by agreeing to exorbitant prices. The buyers had several other complaints and objected to. the practice of allowing private buyers to compete at auction, thus taking advantage of wholucaio prices.

GRIEVANCE'S VENTILATED. MANY OF LONG STANDING. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. In a statement regarding the boycott instituted by the Fruit Buyers’ Association against certain brokers, the secretary of the Buyers’ Association, Mr C. H. Capes, said the grievances of the buyers, which were longstanding, were that the brokers had let the buyers down over the price of Australian oranges. The price, they claimed, was excessive, but the brokers naturally liked high prices, because there was more commission. The buyers objected strongly to private individuals being allowed to bid at auctions. ‘ Each private individual was a potential customer, and to allow them to buy at wholesale prices, and in small lots, was not fair to the retailers. The, raising of the banana contract price by a shilling a case, and the insistence of the brokers on cash, payments for purchases when Ashburton buyers and public institutions were allowed credit were further grievances. Mr Capes made it plain that the buyers had no grievance against the Growers’ Association. 1-Ie said they had not decided on the boycott without the fullest consideration, and until the brokers made the changes asked for his association had no intention of turning away from its programme. One of the brokers at noon offered to hold a conference with the Buyers’ Association, provided the boycott was removed in the meantime, but the association would not agree to the lifting of the'boycott.