Native Growers Being Coerced

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 53, 25 May 1927, Page 13

Native Growers Being Coerced

LOCAL MERCHANT’S VIEWS POSITION OF ISLANDERS received from the , Sook Islands are to the effect that the native committee is using coercive methods to prevent the °l. a .P r!ce ‘han that fixed by the committee. Consigning fruit to the merchants, as has been the practice in the past, is also prohibited. In making this statement to a SUN . to-day. in reply to an article \\ hu h appeared yesterdav. Mr H Tisher secretary of the Auckland timt Importers Association, said that the position simply is that some of the influential natives have recent I v toimed a price-fixing committee, with headquarters at Rarotonga. For both the, Wal pah l to Auckland, and the Makuia to \\ ellington. the committee fixed prohibitive prices. The traders ana merchants offered prices in excess of prices paid last year, but these were not accepted. The prices asked by the native committee would either result in a huge loss to importers, or the public would have to pav extreme prices. It is a greaty pity.” said Mr. Fisher, “that the natives are being so misguided, as the oranges grow wild profusely, and, being of good quality, they are naturally very acceptable to the public of New Zealand. “From a trade point of view it is extremely desirable that rook Islands fruit should be sold in New Zealand, in preference to oranges imported from other points, as the monev is kept within New Zealand, the natives being chiefly paid for their oranges with goods manufactured in New Zealand. such as biscuits, soap, jam, and meats. Even the cases containing the oranges are supplied from here, this also being a reciprocal trade.” In the meantime, the New Zealand market is being supplied by Californian. and a small quantity of Island oranges, and shipments will b# arriving almost immediatelv * from Australia.

STEAMER SERVICES

GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSAL ’llie proposal of tlie> Government, to replace the s.s. Hinemoa with a new 1.000-ton vessel, making Lyttelton its first port of call, to trade between New Zealand and the Niue and Samoan Groups in the Pacific, is being subjected to severe criticism by Auckland merchants. Local merchants consider the attitude of the Government grossly unfair and unreasonable. Local merchants handle the greatest proportion of the Island fruit trade and in addition have built up a considerable reciprocal trade with the islanders. The new proposal will mean that Southern merchants will be allowed to take advantage of the trade at Aucklanders’ expense. Shipping firms, in assessing freights, take into consideration the quantity of cargo consigned to the various ports. The flat rate proposed by the Government will mean that Lyttelton merchants handling less than one-third of the fruit consigned to Auckland will be charged the same rate as Auckland and have a better service. The unfairness of the proposal, however, is seen when it is realised that to reach Lyttelton the vessel will pass within a few miles of Auckland Harbour, but will take over a week to deliver her cargo. As it is realised that quickness in transit is essential in the fruit trade especially for fruit handled in the North Island Auckland's position is further accentuated.

Local business men are taking the position up with the Government and the Chamber of Commerce is interesting itself in the matter. Speaking on the question to a SUN man to-day Mr. H. Turner, chairman of the Auckland Fruit Importers’ Association, said that the local merchants did not want to bo unreasonable in the matter, hut they desired the Government to try the three ports, Lyttelton, Auckland and Wellington, and see which route would bo most equitable in the interests of all concerned.