FIJI BANANAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 12 August 1922, Page 15

FIJI BANANAS.

NEW KJBGTJ-ATIOWS. ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE SHIPMENTS (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, August 2. The Fiji Government, with the desire to improve the quality of the banana* for export from the colony, h-ive gazetted new regulations this week, which they believe will tend to greatly improve shipments in the future. Tho following are some of the chief provisions. A number of packing stations have been agreed upon, mutual'v satisfactory to the banan_. growers and the Department of Agriculture, along the upper waters of the main tributaries of the Rewa River. It is demanded that not wore than four days must elapse between cutting the bananas and packing them in eases ready for shipment. All fruit mu^t te cut from plants which have been tieatod in accordance with tlie law. Every bunch will consist of not I:S9 than eight hands of well developed fruit, and shall be clean and undamaged by water. All fruit shall be piek_-_t aim marked to the satisfaction of the inspector, who, however, may open and rcinspect the fruit at ship's side and inspec* the whole or any part of a shipment. Anyone furnishing a false certificate is liable to a £10 fine and forfeiture of the fruit. All bananas grown in packing areas and for export must be brought to the prescribed packing stations, ana all cases inspected must be marked by the inspector. I Penalties are imposed on all persons (1) packing fruit elsewhere than at appointed stations: (2) packing at stations before arrival of inspectors, or (3) packing any fruit which has been rejected. Any person convicted of any offence may have his license cancelled.