Statement On Banana Trade By Distributor

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29912, 28 August 1962, Page 17

Statement On Banana Trade By Distributor

(New Zealand Press Association) • WELLINGTON, August 27. “If the African Reefer’s cargo of bananas has to be dumped, the cost will be met by New Zealand consumers,” the general manager of Fruit Distributors, Ltd. (Mr C. R. Walker) said in Wellington tonight.

“When Fruit Distributors. Ltd., was set up in 1951, the purpose was to supply the New Zealand public with bananas and other tropica! fruit in adequate quantity of top quality and at reasonable prices,” Mr Walker said. The company is a non-proflt-mak-ing concern. The charges for fruit are adjusted so that the benefits of any savings are passed on to the consumers. “If the shipment is lost, the New Zealand public pay for iff without getting the benefit of the fruit. Similarly. any loss resulting from deterioration of fruit must be absorbed by adjustment to the price of later shipments "Boon to Public” “The development of this method of trading has been a boon to the New Zealand public. From the beginning it was our policy to adopt refrigerated transport for al! fruit. We began with the Motua (Union Steam Ship Company), and the Maui Pomare (New Zealand Government). "In 1952 the Union Steam Ship Company added the Tofua and in 1957 the Tarawera. In 1960 the New Zealand Government added the Moana Roa. built especially

for the Rarotongan trade, replacing the Maui- Pomare. “Principally because of the improved methods of distribution and availability of suitable refrigerated shipping the demand for fruit has increased in New Zealand year by year.” Mr Walker said. “The increase in bananas has been from 200,000 cases in 15651 to about Im cases annually in recent years. “Since 1958 almost all fruit has been brought here in refrigerated ships In addition to those of the Union Steam Ship Company and of the Government, it has been necessary to use overseas ships to pick up fruit from Rarotonga and Samoa. “In 1958 eight ships picked up fruit while returning to New Zealand in ballast, and the Argentinian Reefer was used for a special trip from New Zealand to Samoa and return. Increasing Demand “Since then, the Moana Roa had been added to the New Zealand fleet. But, in spite of this addition, the increasing demand for fruit required additional use of overseas ships to meet the requirements at peak periods. “In 1959,” said Mr Walker, “five shipments were brought bv vessels returning to New Zealand, and in 1960, four.

"The disadvantage of attempting to carry the cargoes of fruit to New Zealand by these arrangements lay in their lack of regularity, disrupting cutting in the islands and distribution in New Zealand.” "To meet this difficulty, in 1961 special acrangements were made for the African Reefer to make six trips from Samoa to pick up fruit and the Argentinian Reefer two. This included one trip to Melbourne for oranges and two trips to Rarotonga “In 1962, arrangements were made for two ships to pick up fruit on their way to New Zealand. The Saracen and the Canterbury Star picked Up cargoes at Rarotonga in May, and the Indian Reefer made one trip from Samoa. The African Reefer was engaged for five special trips from Samoa, of which the present one is the first “The four New Zealand refrigerated ships now carrying fruit are fully engaged throughout the year. /’As will be seen from this review of developments in recent years, the special support from other ships is required for about four months —from August to November inclusive.” said Mr Walker. “If we 1 continue to supply regularly to customers in New Zealand high-quality fruit at reasonable cost it is not too much to hope that the demand will continue to expand as it has done in the last five years. If that happens, then there shouW be sufficient extra traffic before long to justify «some New Zealand shipping company building still another ship for the trade. “Truly Retrograde” “It would be truly retrograde to revert to the primitive conditions that previously applied. These were wasteful, costly, and resulted in poor-quality fruit. z “It has been suggested that non-refrigerated ships might be used for carrying oranges from Australia in order to relieve'the Tarawera for the banana trade. In 1951 the retail price of Australian oranges was Is 4%d. Today, it is Is 3d. A moment's reflection will bring appreciation of the cost increases which have been absorbed by better handling methods.”