FRUIT AUCTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1930, Page 6

FRUIT AUCTIONS

CUSTOM. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WFLLINGTGX, Oct. JG. Further evidence was tendered at the Magistrate’s Court to-day in the caso, against Laery and Co. in regard to island fruit. Alfred William Allan, director of Hadley and Co., Auckland, said that his firm had a country order depart-, ment. Goods were bought in lor that department and sold later. The transactions of the re-sales was not shown on the account sales. The custom was general in Auckland, and was known to all suppliers. It was often necessary to withdraw goods from auction to fulfil an order. It was customary to charge the top auction price. A flat rate was charged for cartage. Harvey Turner, director of Turner and Growers Co., Auckland, said that it was his . firm’s practice, to buy-in. Goods were taken out before the sale and then charged too auction rate. This. was, the general custom in Auckland. Cross-examined, he said that in the ease of Government fruit, it was not necessary to. soli it at auction.

Phelps, director of the defendant company, also gave evidence. To a, question, he said he did n»w think that the account sales rendered 1 by his company were likely to miskp-d the Government. The sale of Government fruit/was conducted on the sam, lines as other suppliers.