MARKET BOYCOTT.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1923, Page 4

MARKET BOYCOTT.

GROWERS’ COM PLAINT AGAINST A FCTJONETvRS.

WELLINGTON, April 30 AVelliiigton is threatened with

vegetable famine as a result of a dispute between growers and auctioneers over terms of sale. r l lie growers hold that in the past time have seal in their proilnee with the right to receive the containers hack or receive credit for them. -Now the auctioneers want to sell the containers with the prod nee without allowing the producer anything. 'l'n an ordinary grower it is considered this means an increase in expenditure of about -CIO yearly. The market gardeners, therefore, threatened to send in their produce loose, as a result of which the auctioneers decided that commission on loose produce would he increased from 70 to 12J per cent, the probability being iliat if produce was sent in loose handling charges would also ho greatly increased. The charge at present made for handling is Id a ease' and Id per half ease. Some growers sent' their produce in loose and had to pay considerably more than this rate. For instance, if a man sends in a dozen cabbages in a • ease the handling charge is Id, hut if they are sent ill loose he might he charged as much as Id for each c-abhage. The growers complain that they cannot possibly carry on with the treble increase put into operation by the atucioncers.

The growers’ protest took shape at a meeting of Chinese and European gardeners, which claimed to represent 90 per cent of the suppliers. It was said that the new condition regarding containers would mean an annual loss of £2BOO to the growers present. The meeting decided to endeavour to enlist the sympathy of the Hutt Valley suppliers with a view to organising a boycott of Wellington auctions if the Auctioneers’ Association maintains its present firm attitude.