THE ALLEGED FRUIT RING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13337, 1 February 1909, Page 8

THE ALLEGED FRUIT RING.

INDIGXANT FRUIT GROWERS.

The meeting of the Canterbury Fruit-growers' Association on Saturday night was largely devoted to a discussion on the fruit ring alleged to exist in this city. Jlr F. Sksou presided. Very outspoken opinions were expressed, especially regarding tho alleged custom of auctioneers of reiusinc bids that are not made by fruiterers. The Chairman said that, There was a strong ring in -the fruit trad* in Chrisrclmrch, and the fruiterers practically arranged amongst themselves what price they should pay, and did not bid beyond tho price arranged. There was cnJy one solution of the difficulty, and that was tie establishment of municipal markets and the introduction of fruit hawkers. Tho Sec-rotary (Mr Wilkinson) cited tho following instances of the manner in which it was alleged that fruit auctions are at present conducted.—At a fruit auction a woman who had a fruitstall at the Lyttelton Regatta left her eon to bid for come currants, and he bid 3d for them; but on the auctioneer learning that tho boy was ?iot in the trade, lie refused his bid and sokl the currants to fruiterers at i'*d per lb. A man bid 5d per lb for a case ot cherries, but was refused delivery because he did not belong to the trade, and the case was sold at -id t*t H>. A lady who had bought fifteen cases of fruit at 3d per pound, it was thought, was not allowed to have tihe fruit when she stated that she <lid not belong to tho trade, and ifc was tlK>U£ht J that the same fruit was sold at Ud Vkt j lb. The Secretary stated that ho bad been unable to get detfinite information regard ing this last mentioned case. A man who was at present working for him (Mr Wilkinson) had informed him that two lady friends of his had bid for fruit, but their bid was aiot accepted when they stated that they did. not belong to the trade. Some discussion ensued on the legality of an auctioneer refusing a bid. and Sir L. B. Hubbard, who stated that he had been an auctioneer for ten years, asserted that no auctioneer could tar anyone bidding at a public auction. Another member stated: that ho believed that it was the law that if an auctioneer refused a bid, he could bo sued by tho owner of the goodls for the difference between the bid accepted and the bid rejected. Tho Chairman snid that the conditions under which tho auctioneers were selling at present were making a serious difference to growers, and the fruit in the shops was not marked) one iota cheaper. A gentleman from Wellington had said to him that ho noticed by the prices in tihe shops that fruitgrowers -were getting good prices; but he (the chairman) had told him that ho could get better prices for hie plums anywhere else than in Christeburch. Fruit was marked higher in the shops than it was last year before the ring started operations. The public were paying more for their fruit, or equally as much. The Secretary: "The retailers want 100 per oenrt. profit, which I consider absurd!" The Chairman : "Tihe ring is seriously affecting tihe growers in Canterbury, and especially the small growers. I should like the secretary; to -write to -the City Council pointing out what is happening, and stating that this association sees no way out of the difficulty except the cstolxldslimen't of municipal markets." A Member: "You won't get them!" Tho Chairman: "Wβ may nob get them, but it's tho only way. I am oar tain that tlhere is not a- grower in Canterbury who has mot -suffered by the. ring." Another member said the chairman's remarks regarding municipal markete were, purely visionary. "There is no chance of tiheir being realised in our time," lie said. Mr Hubbard: "There is too much vested interests involved in the case of people letting shops at £6 or £8 per week." The Chairman stated that fruithawkers in Wellington were satisfied with a profit of 6d per case. It was decided .that the secretary should interview ttihe Town Clerk to ascertain the posdition. occupied by auctioneers—wihether t<hey were under iho City Council's by-Qaws or under tho Auctioneers Act. The Secretary stated that he believed that there was some legal right by whioh. auctioneers could restrict sales to whom they pleased.