BLAME IN SOUTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 175, 27 July 1942, Page 5

BLAME IN SOUTH

PRICES OF POTATOES

MERCHANTS' STATEMENT

Explaining the statement published on Saturday that the Price Tribunal was instituting prosecutions for breaches of the price orders governing potatoes, Mr. M P, resi( l e " 1 of the Auckland AssMf™ and , Prod «ce Merchants' PotatAAX, • membe r of the davy y .Council, said toSh™ 1 it Was intended to apply cu!a r'y ,to merchants and ff BrS m e South Island, where, it was suggested, there had been a tradin* of black market hplnrr £ at - Potatoes were dIF , • to obtain higher prices. Replying to retailers' complaints ot overcharging by wholesalers, Mr. Laud said that throughout the season South Island potatoes had been available from Auckland merchants at prices which would enable retailers to obtain the margin of profit allowable under the price order and still sell within the limits set by the order.

It was not generally realised, he said, that sudden and unexpected demands from the services and shipping had the effect of upsetting the market.

Ohakune Supplies

Regarding Ohakune potatoes, Mr. Laird said it was first understood it was not the Price Tribunal's intention that they should be covered bv Price Order 92, which was to relate to South Island main crop potatoes only. However, a ruling had nowbeen obtained that although the growers' price for North Island potatoes was not controlled, the margins of merchants and retailers were those enumerated in the price order, with the result that any Ohakune potatoes now available were either being sold as table potatoes, in accordance with the order, or for seed.

"Retailers as Scapegoats"

Allegations that the price regulations were being over-ridden by wholesalers were made in a statement issued yesterday by Mr. C. C. King, secretary of the Auckland Retail Fruiterers' Association. He said it was five months since the unsatisfactory position in the industry was first reported to the Price Tribunal.

"Retailers have been faced with being without supplies, or purchasing at inflated prices," added Mr. King. "Often, choosing the latter course, they have been compelled to pass the over-charge on to their customers. As a result, the Price Tribunal states that retailers are being prosecuted, and that an endeavour will be made to bring to book the persons further back in the chain.

"We can see no reason why the tribunal should be 'endeavouring.' because we have already supplied it with numerous cases of wholesale over-charges. Unless the tribunal takes action equally against those wholesalers, a grave injustice will be done to retail vegetable traders, as public opinion will conclude that they alone are responsible for overcharging. This association will resist to the uttermost any attempt to make retailers the scapegoat of past inaction by the tribunal."