When Onions Make The Growers Cry!

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1949, Page 5

When Onions Make The Growers Cry!

Onions sold at £11 a ton, i.pcluding eacks, bv local growers are, in some instances, (jeing retailed in the shops at 4d a 1b., or £37 6s 8d a ton. Where is the commodity being loaded between grower and consumer? This is the question exercising the mind of members of the Mdnawatu \ "Potato and Opiki Growers' Association, and-some pointed comment on the subject fas voiced at a meeting of the association on I'hufsday night. Inquiries in Palmerston North by "The Times" yesterday disclosed that recent onion prices at one of the markfets had been between £14 and £16 a ton. The priee, stated an aticfidfiefer; was decided by a special association ot the merchants. He agreed that 4d a Ib. was too much. The bulk of the onions grofyn lqfcalfy are marketed through the mercfianfc# knd a member of the Staff of ohe 6f the Piineipal merchants in Palmerston Ndrfh sfatfed y6sferday that the ofii&ir price order had been revoked in itficfember. i^ecently onions had b6en

soid to the retailers at from ijd to. ifd a lb. — something over £14 a ton. This would indicate that at least some re tdilers are tnaking Oi the vih'lnify 6f £23 a tbn clear prbfit on the oriions sdld. However, not all retailers are charging*4d a lb. One large grocery concern with several sfo'res ih arid afhrind fhe cit^ whs chargihg o'flly 2^d a lb: A (arg£ greengrorifery Shop wris' charging 10s fifl for a 561b. bag — aboiit 2:fd a lb. Some others were charging even less ffisfcfi fhis for bufh qfuaritities. Hofwever, in some shops onions were dis played for sale at 4d a lb.