THE ALLEGED "FRUIT RING."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13337, 1 February 1909, Page 6

THE ALLEGED "FRUIT RING."

Complaints that the retailers take more than their fair share of the profite of the fruit trade seem perennial. Last year, it will be remembered, there w»s an outcry on the part of consumers against the decision of the auctioneers to accept bids from none but those in the trade. The trouble seemed to cure itself, by perfectly obvious methods, and -we had thought to hear no more of it. But the fruit-growers aro now complaining that the same tactics are being pursued, and also that a '"ring" settles the prices to be paid for fruit offered by auction. The members of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association who discussed the matter on Saturday night com-

merited strongly on the position of affairs, but though there -was some expression of opinion in favour of the establishment of a municipal market, nothing was done to lorward the movement, possibly because the mooting was in some doubt as to whether such markets would eolve the It is difficult to see what would be gained by them unless it was made compulsory to sail therein all fruit brought " into tho city, and it is more tian doubtful whether the Legislature would agree to such a step. In the meantime ,the Cdty Council is hardly likely to establish markets unless it sees some prospect of their proving a success, nor would it be justified in doing so. Wβ have every sympathy with the desire of the growers to secure better prices for their fruit, particularly as this is by no means incompatible with the desire of the consumer to pay less for his fruit. The dotereste of both parties would be served if tie margin between tho two prices were smaller than it is. The auctioneers, it must be remembered, have yet to state their sido of tho case, but if they cannot refute the assertions made on Saturday and are unwilling to yield to the representations of the growers, they must not be surprised if the latter take matters in their own hands and devise some scheme for coming into direct touch with the consumer.