COOK ISLAND FRUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 11

COOK ISLAND FRUIT.

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. CRITICISM FROM AUCTKXN*EER. The report of the Cook Island Commia-. sioner on the administration of the islands, and the low pricee reported as, having been paid last year in Rarotonga; by the traders was criticised this morn-'j ing- by Mr. H. Turner, of Messrs E.j Turner and Sons, Ltd., fruit auctioneers.] Mr. Turner said that hie firm were not I traders in the general sense in Raro-| tonga, but that during the last twelve months they handled about one-fourth of the total fruit shipments from Rarotonga, which was the island mentioned. About half the fruit was "straight out" purchase, f.o.h. Earoton'ga, and the balance on consignment from the native and white planters. In checking over; the prices for the last twelve months his firm found that the average price paid for Rarotongan oranges and bananas was 10/ per case landed in Auckland, and the average price realised for consignment fruit over a similar period was 10/6 per case. The cost of the ca=e, freight, wharfage, and cartage would amount to about 5/9 per ca?e, which taken off a 10/ landed cost, left 4/3 net for the seller. He considered that the prices mentioned by the Commissioner were altogether wrong, and that the Commissioner should have mentioned that the charges whicn have to be added to the original price of the fruitamount to more than what the fruit originally cost. In respect to the Commissioner's statement that "the combine would not allow the native growers to purchase cases," Mr. Turner said his firm had always supplied the native growers with when they were willing to pay for them or to consign fruit. The only one , refused were those who had cases sen' to them and sent nothing in return.