ORANGES ROT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 139, 15 June 1938, Page 13

ORANGES ROT.

DUMPED OUT AT SEA. POOR RAROTONGAN FRUIT. t A large part of the Rarotongan oranges which arrived in Auckland by the Matua on June 3 lias already become a total loss. J lie City Markets were allocated a heavy quantity of the fruit, which sold slowly owing to poor keeping quality. e The proportion of the shipment which has been lost is estimated at from 30 I'cr cent to ->0 per cent. Ten tons of oranges unfit for consumption were dumped at sea yesterday by the refu<»e launch. Under the control scheme, by which the island oranges are sold on consignment by the Cook Island Administration to the Government of New Zealand, efforts are being made to improve the packing methods used and the quality of the fruit packed. Though the city has had mostly inferior Rarotongan oranges for the past few weeks, supplies of Mangaia and Australian fruit have now been released l»v the Government. The Australian are the first of the new season's navels, and as increasing quantities are imported by the Government it is expected that the public will be well supplied with good quality oranges.