SAMOAN BANANAS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 354, 8 February 1937, Page 5

SAMOAN BANANAS.

Government To Take Control Of Sale.

Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, To-day.

An alteration in the method of disposal of Samoan bananas is to be made by the Government on the recommendations of the committee that has been investigating the marketing of fruit and vegetables in New Zealand. In an official statement issued or. Saturday, it was pointed out that for some years past bananas from Western Samoa had been sold under yearly contract. The Government has decided that for the future it will control the distribution of Samoan bananas. All recognised wholesale fruit merchants will be able to obtain on consignment I their requirements of these banana® so long as they are able to handle them to the satisfaction of the GovemmenL Prices will be fixed by the Government for each shipment, the object being to obtain throughout the year an average price that will just cover the landed cost of the fruit, plus a small reserve to meet contingencies. To achieve this objective it is anticipated that, in order to meet the lessened ability of the market to pay, winter prices will probably have to be below cost, and that in summer prices must rise somewhat to enable the Government to, recoup its temporary losses. It is an essential feature of the scheme that wholesalers will be required to supply the fruit to retailer® at prices fixed by the Government, whioh prices will be designed to allow th® wholesaler a reasonable return tor his labour.