THE CHINESE & PRICE OF VEGETABLES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1755, 21 May 1913, Page 3

THE CHINESE & PRICE OF VEGETABLES.

OPERATIONS IN MARTS. IS THERE A CHINESE CONTROL? (By Telegraph— Special Correspondent.) Auckland, May 20. Recent increases in tho prices for vegetables in Sydney have been attributed to the operations of a combine" among Chinese merchants. Inquiries wore made by an Auckland reporter this morning with tho object of ascertaining how far the Chinese engaged in the trade regulate the market in Auckland.

"There have been increases hern as well as in Sydney during the reccnt weeks," said a member of an auctioneering firm, "but we do not consider that the (Jhineso are mainly responsible. Retail prices are governed "by tlie rates which prevail at the auction marts, aud, in this 'conntction, the Chinamen have only a proportionate voice." The salesman hientioned that the most prominent increase of late was in regard to root vegetables, which had gono up to tho extent of about 2d. per dozen. At the Waiteniata Co-operative Auction Rooms it was learned that the sales there are usually attended by 15 or 16 Chinese, who take an active part in the bidding for the purpose of supplying their retail l'ruit and vegetable shops. These men appear to be held in kindly regard, in this direction, having obtained a reputation for scrupulous honesty, readiness to oblige, and keenness of bargaining. The Chinese view of marketing conditions in Auckland was obtained from Mr. Will Ah Chee, whoso firm has ■ a largo interest in the market gardening business. Ho said that their prices were always regulated by those ruling at the auctions, and, therefore, any increases were the result of general' market fluctuations. "If we have a good deal to do with regulating the market," said Mr. Ah Chee, "it is because our countrymen are mainly interested in tho business. With about two exceptions, there are 110 European market, gardeners to sneak of in Auckland, but there are a number of fruit and vegetable shops which get their supplies from tho auction mart. These people have as much voice as we have in tising prices. Mr: Ah Chee added that, although the public did not hear of it, they had their labour troubles just as did the people in the outer industrial world. When the Chinese workmen felt that they should be getting higher wages they appointed deputations to wait on tho employers, and, if their requests were not met in a satisfactory manner, they went out 011 strike. ' "Our- men have struck two or three times during the past year," remarked tho speaker. He added, however, that they usually managed to settle their troubles before they went very far, as tho result of conferences between the parties concerned. "I could show yon from our wages book," he said, "that same of the Chinese in our gardens are getting as much as .£3 per week, and also that the usual wage for shop hands is from <£2' to 10s. per week. In further explanation, he s<V c ' that the former were third or fourth-rate overseers. In addition to the wages quoted, the employers had to provide keep for their employees so that their businesses had to be run 011 careful, lines to secure satisfactory results. In all, there are about 250 Chinese market gardeners in Auckland. From the foregoing investigations it would seem that, notwithstanding the fairly heavy poll-tax (<£loo per individual) which Chinese have to pay on entering tho Dominion, they possess the ability to place themselves in the position of extracting wages sufficiently remunerative to very soon wipe out their initial outlay and commence an accumulation of private means.