DEARER ORANGES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 8

DEARER ORANGES

AUSTRALIAN SHIPMENT SUPPLIES FOR GISBORNE Wholesale prices for a new shipment of 4000 cases of oranges, landed in Auckland to supply the Auckland narket, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Hamilton and Whangarei, are 3s a case dearer than for the previous shipment, owing to a rise in the price of oranges in Australia, according to merchants' reports. Prices range up lo 27s a case.

Mr. A. Turner, supervisor of imported fruits for the Internal Marketing Department, said that prices, foi oranges had risen considerably in Australia. Mr. Turner has returned from a visit to Australia, where he has investigated the fruit market. He said that oranges which would pass the Australian export test had increased in price recently by at least 5s for a l).-bushel case. In Sydney retail prices were much higher than he hacl expected. However, low quality fruit, which would not be allowed for export, was much cheaper in Sydney shops than might be seen in the Dominion. Oranges tit for export were at much higher prices, fruit of 153 count to the ease being priced at 3d each.

The whole of the Dominion's present supplies of oranges were Australian, ■aid Mr. Turner, and the cost of the fruit which had arrived in Auckland would be increased by 3s a case without taking into account the increase in freight charges owing to war conditions. This would also apply to ah future shipments. High prices for oranges therefore could be expected until Jamaican became available toward the end of November.