THE FRUIT TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 420, 1 February 1909, Page 6

THE FRUIT TRADE.

. '■'■•'. (BY TiLiaKAl'H—l'iteSS ASSOCIATION.)- ■- 7 ' •■-•:".■ "'/■■; ' : \ .•■■; .." ; ' Chrlstohiirch, January; 31; ; :v; .•■■'At..a meeting of, the Fruitgrowers', Asso.;' ■'• ciation Inst, night there was a lengthy dis-V cussion on the alleged illegality of tno actiop ~w: of-fruit auctioneers-in refusing any. bids', ex- ..•" cept from fruiterers, aid it was .alleged that . v in several instances fruit was sold. at a-lower : price' to; fruiterers than tho' price bid by. ?- persons not connected;with the trade. It:' '' was. further alleged that the .fruiterers-had.' ,, ::, agreed amongst themselves as to what price ';: should be paid for ditforont fruit, and that '■.'■':-. no bids beyond the arranged were' made, v V It was statod that ■ a fruit'ring existed, and.-' ; that growera were suffering from' the op:.ra-. ■' ' tion. Jlunicipil markets and the introduc- '■:'•." : 'iiori'. : "ef fruit hawkers wort-.stated- to : be the■''' only Temedies for present unsatisfactory '■- . •:' state of. things iinder: which; tho' consumer .■' h»d.to liiglier prices for -frnit.M'he secretary v was instructed to confer-with'the:- 'VTown Clerk in order to ascertain.the position"; occupied by auctioneers, and :to place. th« .■ i ■ : , positfon. boforo himl , ; ... ; ■ : ' ; ■■■>.■'.■■.:- > ,;^'