RIGHT AT OUR DOORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 208, 31 August 1920, Page 7

RIGHT AT OUR DOORS.

ISLAND FRUIT SUPPLY. AN AUCKLAND VENTURE. 1 A venture to import oranges for , Auckland supply from Norfolk Island < was recently undertaken by a party ot . Auckland business men with a very fair amount of success. : The object was to land the fruit here j with a minimum of waste. This was j accomplished satisfactorily, but owing - to the schooner Rira, which was specially . chartered for the •purpose, encountering ; bad weather, the trip extended over ID days, and thus the project was not , satisfactory from a financial aspect. . I Mr. E. Turner (auctioneer), otic of the , parties interested, stated this morning , that the oranges excelled in quality the , Californian sun-kissed oranges. The j shipment comprised in all 800 cases ot i oranges and kumaras, consignments ot : mandarins, bananas, and limejuice. The kumaras compared favourably with supplies of this vegetable on the local market, while the mandarins and bananas were of first-class quality. . Norfolk Island is only GOO miles dis- , tant from Auckland, whereas Raro- ; tonga, from which we draw large | supplies of fruit, is about 1050 miles dis- , tant. l In conclusion, Mr. Turner suggested ( that it only required a Government sub- , sidy for a regular steamer service to j Norfolk Island to permit of the fruit, | right at our doors, to be landed here , regularly. It would result in a cheaper j orange for the Auckland market.