JAPANESE ONIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1939, Page 11

JAPANESE ONIONS

"A LARGE PROFIT"

AUCKLAND CRITICISM

I (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 26. j The New Zealand Government is expected to make a large profit on the shipment of Japanese onions which j arrived by the Naniwa Maru on Saturday. Provided the entire quantity is dis- j posed of, the Government should j show a clear gain of about £7000. Prices to storekeepers have been fixed at 22s a crate of one hundred-! weight, or £22 a ton. The general opinion in Auckland is that the shipment of 725 tons was landed by the Internal Marketing Department at from £8 10s to £12 a ton, including duty and all freight charges. j Storekeepers and merchants have been kept in the dark as to the actual purchase price, but it is obvious that a handsome profit is being made. No figures were made public by the Director of Internal' Marketing, Mr. F. R. Picot, who left Auckland for Wellington today after transacting business in connection with the onion shipment; Taking the purchase price at the conservative estimate of £12 a ton landed in New Zealand, the Government is making a profit "of £10 a ton in selling the onions to consumers at £22 a ton. Assuming that the entire shipment, is sold, the Government should show a gain of about £7000. It has been stated that the Japanese shipment will be distributed only where necessary. Supplies of onions from Pukekohe and the surrounding districts are now coming in freely to the local market, and can be obtained for £20 to £21 a ton. Alternatively. Californian onions may be purchased for 24s a bag of 1001b. New Zealand onions are still- being shipped to Australia in the execution of contracts made several months ago, and heavy exports have been leaving New Zealand since early this yeai\