A DEADLOCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 128, 1 June 1937, Page 10

A DEADLOCK

SALE OF ORANGES

RETAILERS DECLINE

TO BUY

DISPUTE OVER PRICE

There are oranges for sale in Wellington today—but they are not being, sold. Retailers find themselves unable to agree that the price fixed by the Governnmcnt is a reasonable one, and when the fruit was put up for auction at the markets this morning there was no response on the part of members of the Retail Fruiterers' Association. Owing to the dispute, the public is being deprived of the opportunity of securing a commodity which has been in short supply for several months.

The oranges, which comprise the first shipment of the season from the Cook Islands—Mauke and Rarotonga— arrived in Auckland yesterday by the Limerick, and were brought to Wellington by train this morning.

The Government fixed the price at from 14s to 21s a case, according to count. It was maintained that it was impossible to sell the fruit at a lower figure, as the price fixed only covered the landed cost.

As soon as the Government's price was made known( members of the Retail Fruiterers' Association held a meeting at the markets, and decided that their members would not handle the oranges unless the price was reduced by 2s 6d a case. The contention of the retailers was that the fruit was not in good condition and that they would not be justified' in offering the oranges to the public at the "figure that would be necessitated by the price fixed by the Government. As a result a deadlock occurred, and the oranges are at present lying at the markets.

It is pointed out that, although the retailers refuse to handle the fruit, there is nothing to prevent members of the public going along to the markets and buying oranges for themselves. The auctioneers are not actively engaged in; the dispute, as their commission on the sales is fixed by the Government.

One opportunist, the owner of a barrow, took advantage of the position this morning. He purchased 35 cases at the price fixed, and sold the fruit, with an encouraging measure of success, in the city streets. His price was eight for Is. ' The president of the Retail Fruiterers' Association, Mr. A. M. Holland, when asked to comment on the position, said it was true there was a lock between the retailers and the Government. There had been negotiations between the parties, and he was hoping., to secure a definite statement from the Government this afternoon as to the position it would take up. He said that Island oranges were never in good condition, and even with the very best of shipments 10 per cent, of the oranges would be bad. The association considered that the price fixed by the Government was too high. If they' bought the oranges at the price fixed, it would be necessary to ask the public to pay more for the fruit than it was worth. Mr. Holland indicated that he hoped to be in a position to say more- on the subject tomorrow morning, when he had had a definite statement from the Government.