GROWERS COMPETE WITH RETAILERS

Chronicle (Levin), 23 February 1949, Page 6

GROWERS COMPETE WITH RETAILERS

A greater buoyancy of prices in the city fruit and vegetahle markets yesterday marked the opening of a new phase m the container charge dispute between growers and retailers. While some of the smaller shopkeepers weakened in their attitude towards the container charge and made tentative bids for some lines, the growers stocked, their open-air stall with produce bought on the market floors in competition with retailers and householders. The growers' stall was well" supported by the public from the time it opened yesterdav inorning. Working ou a non-profit basis, the growers sokl their goods at prices considerably under tliose possible for the retailers and in inost cases tlie diJference proved the deciding factor with the public. Auctioneers were bptiimstic yesterdav. During the few days of the dis-. pute they have been the main suffere.'s because the goods have not been pass ing through the .floors and their revenue had not been forthcoruing. They were determined not to ta'ke sides on the matter but expressed the hope that agrcement would be reached in the near future. The retailers found their position more difiicult yesterdav tlian it has been for some timo. With the ^rpjjwers bidding ou lines to which the container charge applied as well as those frce oi the' charge, competition briskened and the retailers had to keep their bid lirm to get the produce. Lvon so, some of' theni were unable to get some lines which they required. The efl'ect of the growers' stall o.n the shops could not be ascertained yesterday but the prices of some goods dift'ered coiisiderably. In thV fo'llowing i-ist of specimen prices, the retailers' eharges are in pare^theses: Peas Gd lb. (!)]); cueuntbers 2d to 6d eacli I2d to 1/-) ; corn 2d a cob (4d) ; lettuee 3d and (3d eacli (Gd to lOd) ; -apples Od lb. (7d); peaehes lOd lb. (1/4 to 1/10);tomatoes (3d lb. (od to 1/2). Growers Suffer Too However, the growers did not have

cverything as they would have liked it. They were mindful of the fact 'that Tuesdav and Thursday are the only two good market days; in the city and had to buy far more produce than they. wanted yesterday so that. they could supply tlie public today. They knew they were putting thcmselves in the position of. having a- cpnsiderable amount of prpduce left on their jiands should the dispute be solved overniglil but they considored the risk worth taking. , ; . "There are .some profits you don't find in the ledgcf,'.' commented one grower as he served at the, stall. " We nave the appreciatibn and support of the public and that'/s worth more than any proflt to us. We stand to lose a lpt of money but we are satisfied. 11' we hadn't come' on the foad with our stali 'tliis' dispute' could have' lasted 1 f orever, As it is, the end ihay be in sight. We are s'elling the perishable goods at sacriiicial prices so they will not go bad on us but we have good stocks of aimost matured vegetables and fruit which will enable us to carry on tomorrow."