THE PRICE OF FRUIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2086, 11 January 1908, Page 2

THE PRICE OF FRUIT.

VIEWS OF GROWERS AND RETAILERS. As numerous complaints have been mado recently concerning the high price of fruit a representative of this journal waited on some of the local growers to hear their views of the case. Iu reply to a query as to the supply of fruit grown in the district a well-known orchardist stated that in ordinary seasons the local supply easily met the demand and ill some cases far exceeded it. Questioned as to the supply this season he said that as far as he could see there was absolutely no necessity for fruit to be the price it was. In proof of tin's statement lie furnished the reporter with quotations of tile prices he had received for his crops so far this year. Before Christmas he was receiving 6d per lb for best peaches, 4d for apricots, and 31 and 4d for plums. These goods be affirmed were being sold in the retail shops at the following figures:—Peaches Is t’o Is 2d per lb, apricots Sd to Is and plums at from 6d to Bd. After Christmas in the natural order of things with friut more plentiful the following prices were obtained: — Peaches 4d per lb, apricots 2d and plums Si, and were disposed of in the shops at correspondingly increased rates.

“Is it possible to make fruit-grow-ing pay in the district under existing circumstances?” was the next query put by our representative and it was met by a most distinct and emphatic “no” from the grower. “Because,” he continued, “when you take into account the time expended in bringing to full bearing and also the fact that growers have all the season to wait while the fruit is growing before they receive any return, and in addition take all risks of the various blights and pests to which fruit is subject; one can easily understand tlliafi with the present state of the local market fruit-grow-ing is not a profitable undertaking.” There are two sides to every question, however, and with this idea, the reporter called upon one of the leading fruiterers in town, wJio not alone retails but also does a very large wholesale business. The question oi the local supply was the first point touched upon and it was stated that at certain times the supply nearly met the demand, at other times it exceeded the demand, bub in the majority of cases there was nothing like an adequate supply of local fruit.

“ One hears a lot,” ho continued,

“about fruit-growing being an unpayable industry in this district, but my opinion is that it cannot and will not be made to pay until something like systematic growing is adopted. ’ As an illustration the present position locally was mentioned. Owing to the exceptionally dry weather and hot. season peaches and apricots, which are the first fruits to com© in, Jjad ripened rapidly and much earlier than usual,- the consequence being that, there was a large gap between the early and late crops and therefore at present as the late crops are not yet ready there was practically a dearth of local fruit in the shops. “I might add,” remarked this informant, “I myself have not got £2 worth of local fruit on hand at present.” In respect to the apparently large profits existing in the line this year his opinion was to the elEeet that the profit* being obtained were perfectly fair and legitimat© and not- in any way extortionate. Ho pointed out that it is much more to the advantage of the dealer to sell as cheaply as possible owing to the fact that by so doing be will dispose of a much larger quantity than otherwise would be the case. It wag also stated that in many cases only left a very small up when the supply was not sufficient, in order that every person may have an opportunity of obtaining fruit. Mention was also made to the waste which is exeperienced by retailers, and in the case of fruit that has to lie imnorted the loss that occurs through piilago was lmjeh greater than people imagined, and also the excessive charges for freight, wharfage, etc. considerably added to the price : which when all had been paid' lii many cases only left a very small margin for profit.