CARRIAGE OF TROPICAL FRUITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 12

CARRIAGE OF TROPICAL FRUITS.

iTo the Editor.) \ ' ■Sir.—As the Government is now cal- j ' ling tenders from steamship owners to ! j run a line of steamers from the Cook i Islands to Auckland or Wellington, this j would be a suitable time for the fruit t , shippers, at both places, to insist that i the vessels lie titled up in a proper j manner to carry fruit, and compel the, ship owners to provide proper ventihi- | tjoti by exhaust fans from the ship's: holds. By doing this, thousands of I pounds worth of fruit would be saved; from damage caused by the over-heated •' .-hip's holds. Scarcely ti cargo of fruit j that comes from these islands, but has j <Hiito a large- proportion damaged l through over-heating, sometimes over : fittj- per cent, consequently the sound j portion has to be sold at a much higher ' price. to cover the losses. The j growers of the bananas seldom i obtain Id. per pound for their fruit, ■ 1 while the average retail price for j' bananas in Xew Zealand is over 4d. per ; ( pound. If the steamers were properly j > fitted for carrying fruit, it would not I ' be necessary to case the bananas, and I they could be safely carried in 'bunches. I as they are from the West Indies to'! Britain—double the distance from tllO. ' ; Cook Islands to New Zealand. This | would save ?,/ per case to the growers. I' for that is what the banana cases cost I t in the Cook Islands. It is very (lis- | couraging to the growers to receive aI ' debit note instead of payment for a . eonsiemment of fruit, and this is fre- I qtiently the case. Until some action is taken to compel ship owners to take j proper care of the fruit while in transit. | both by careful handling and proper j ventilation, the industry will auffuish j and the public will have no fruit at a' reasonable price. We are told that these Islands were going to be a boon to the public in sttpplving tropical < products, fruits, etc.. but little has been ] done to foster the industries, or to \ ' induce men to grow fruits. Years ago j'. the Administration promised that when the easting contracts expired, steps would he taken to ensure better conditions ior carrying fruit-, but what has been done?— I am etc.. W. C. BERKIDGE.