FRUIT FROM THE ISLANDS,

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10673, 18 February 1926, Page 5

FRUIT FROM THE ISLANDS,

SOUTH ISLAND REQUIREMENTS. GOVERNMENT TO BE APPROACHED. CHRISTCHURCH, This Dafy. “ The people of the Islands want our goods and we want their fruit,” Mr E. H. Marriner said last evening when the executive of the Canterbury Industrial Association discussed trade with the Islands. The South Island, he added, needed Island fruit particu-

larly. It on the question of Trade facilities in respect to the Islands, <yfd representations would be made tor' the Government. As there was an embargo on Island fruit m i Australia, New Zealand had an oppor- . tunity to enter the trade. Mr J. Hogg, president of the Dun edin Manufacturers’ Association, saio that children in the South Island should have more fruit than they have at present. The South 'lsland asked for only fair competition in that trade. Business people should not be put off by side issues. Mr W. J. Jenkin said that the question was the most important that had come up in the South Island for a long time. “ Fancy three oranges for a shilling—downright robbery !” Mr Jenkin said. Mr D. Colquhoun read a letter from Mr J. D. Gray, secretary to the Department of Internal Affairs, who stated that ho was satisfied, as a result of 1 1 is experience in two departments, that the only way in which Island fruit could he satisfactorily placed on the South Island market was by direct steamer transport to one port in the j South Island, preferably Lyttelton. Great efforts had been made, to meet J the needs of one merchant in Christchurch by arranging shipments from both Rarotonga and Niue, and bv taking every step possible to ensure prompt delivery in. good' order. Both shipments resulted in a dead loss. The real need was an up-to-date steamer, with a speed of, say, 12} to 13 knots, and properly fitted and ventilated for the carriage of tropical fruits. The ' secret' of the success of the banana trade in Great Britain, the United ’ States, and Canada could be explained ‘ by two facts: (I) The companies not 1 oiilv transported, but also- grew and ? sold the fruit.: (2) enormous popular tious were available as consumers. , The proposal to send a strong depuI tation to the Government was enf dorsed. Mr Marriner was appointed e to represent the association on the deputation,