IMPORTED FRUIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1938, Page 8

IMPORTED FRUIT

MEASURES OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL APPROVED By WELLINGTON RETAILERS (By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “We are satisfied with the way the Government is controlling the sale of foreign fruit, and believe that with a little time the system will work perfectly,” said Mr C. A. Holland, president of the Wellington Fruit Traders’ Association. The secretary, Mr J. Wrigglesworth, said bananas had only been controlled since April 1, and oranges since May 1, but during that time prices had been stabilised. Mr Holland said retailers were satisfied with the control because it placed them in a position where they knew what they were doing, and could satisfy their cheap bananas one week and dear ones in the following week. That was not satisfactory either to retailers or to the public. He believed control would keep the fruit at a price that would be within the reach of all, and, spread over a period, the public would get a better deal than was the case previously. The control was giving retailers a steady supply and the Internal Marketing Department was always ready to accept suggestions from the trade for improvements. Mr Wrigglesworth said there were certain difficulties still to be overcome, but the scheme was not a failure because of that. Contingencies were being met as they arose and the Department had dealt with the disposal of undergrade fruit by allowing it to go to auction for what it would bring. Consequently the fixed price was not leading to any waste. As to the difference between the price to growers and the price to consumers, an investigation of packing and transport costs would show that merchants were not making excessive profits. The average retailer wanted to get a steady supply at a reasonable price, so that he could hold his customers. Without control that was impossible.