PINEAPPLES FROM RAROTONGA

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27782, 6 October 1955, Page 12

PINEAPPLES FROM RAROTONGA

Growers May Refuse To Ship Supplies

INCREASE SOUGHT IN PRICE

(Rec. 10 p.m.) RAROTONGA, Oct. 5. An apparent stalemate has been reached in negotiations over shipment of pineapples to the New Zealand market this year. Last year Mangaia shipped 24,000 cases of pineapples to the New Zealand market through Fruit Distributors, Ltd., which, by agreement with the Government, is responsible for the marketing of all Cook Islands oranges, bananas and pineapples. The company pays 17s 4d a bushel and a half case, out of which must be paid the cost of cases (5s lOd), an inspection fee of 6d, a packing shed levy of 3d, an island council levy of 3d, a boating and reefing charge of Bd, and carting costs and labour, to leave the grower with just on 9s a case.

The growers say they find it difficult to understand why they should not receive a much higher return and earlier this year said in a written memorandum that unless 15s nett was obtained the fruit would not be shipped. Fruit Distributors, Ltd., has said that since it has been handling pineapples, it has lost £15,691, which represents an average loss of 5s Id a case.

When the Minister of Island Territories (Mr T. L. Macdonald) was in Mangaia recently, the matter was discussed with the island council and on his return to New Zealand, Mr Macdonald took the matter up with the company, but because of the losses already incurred, it was not possible to obtain the increase sought. With the Matua available to pick up 10,000 cases early in November, the matter has now reached a stalemate with the company refusing to grant a higher price and with the majority of the growers refusing to ship. The matter is still under discussion between the Department of Island Territories and the company.