FOUR GUINEAS A LB. FOR GRAPES.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 August 1919, Page 5

FOUR GUINEAS A LB. FOR GRAPES.

HIGH FRUIT PRICES IN THE . WEST END. The London “Weekly Dcspatch” _of May 11th states:— ' ' Prices }.~a.id in the West End of London for fruit are becomirig staggering. ‘ A Yesterday thehsalosman of a -big store declared that “When "the fix-st batch of Belgian hothousc grapes came o\‘€l‘_tell days ago, people were glad fo: get hold of them at four guinc-gas a pound. , ‘

“For hot-house peaches I have had as. much as a.guinea each; 12s 6d is the lowest pricc_

“Green figs fetch 8s 6d each, and as much as two nguineas is paid for the melon. '

“DeVollshil'o grown asparagus is snapped up at 35s a'bundle, while the French V:ll‘iety fetches 3s 6d. “At the beginning of the week, stl-:lwbcl-ries were 18s a pound, and we can still dispose of all We can lay our ‘hands on at this price. “A large basket of assorted fruit, the net weight of which would not at the outside be fivc pounds, is disposcd of for £lO.

“T_llese high prices do not mean profiteering on our part. We have to pay heavily to the growers, who take risks during the winfor and 0.ar17.' sprillg to produce crops. “People who buy this ‘forced ’hothouse produce are those who have made Vast sums out of the War, and they are willing to pay any price so long as they think they are getting something out ofthe ol‘cljllal'y.

“The Americans in town, too, do nof pay much attention fo the price so long as the fruit they get is good and wholesome.”