N.Z. ORANGES 10D.

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 15, 13 October 1942, Page 4

N.Z. ORANGES 10D.

Previously Unheard-of

Prices

TINY MANDARINS 5 A 1/New Zealand navel oranges are reaching previously unheard-of prices at auction in Wellington, and yesterday they could’ 'be seen marked lOd. each in a shop window. The price of oranges grown in New Zealand is not controlled by the Government, and the retailer’s profit is only limited to a maximum of 40 per cent. With the cessation of supplies of oranges from overseas the demand for New Zealand oranges has pushed- their price up to 60/- for a case of 120, and even 70/for a case of 70 or 80, which is about 1/- each, is reported. A month ago only 18/- was being .paid for a case of oranges. Most fruiterers in Wellington had no New Zealand navel oranges yesterday. Another fruit that is bringing extraordinary prices in Wellington at present is mandarins. Mandarins the size of walnuts are being offered to the public at five for 1/-. They coime from Kerikeri, North Auckland, and yesterday they brought on the Wellington market 30/- for a case of lees than half a bushel containing about 290. New Zealand mandarins have been appearing on the market over the past three years, but the supply is irregular. They are not always as small as those now in Wellington. The supply of apples also is unusually poor at present. Stunners are the only ones appearing on the wholesale market, and their price is 13/6 a case, which means that they sell at 6d. or 7d. a pound.

Fancy prices are being obtained for some kinds of vegetables. Rhubarb yesterday was 7/6 for three bunches. Spring onions sold at a price equal to id. each. Leeks of average size were 22/- a case of 40. Carrots, parsnips and swedes are almost unobtainable, and pumpkins and marrows are going off the market, so cabbages and cauliflowers are the chief vegetables being offered in Wellington.