MATUA’S BANANAS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30200, 3 August 1963, Page 10

MATUA’S BANANAS

The bananas in the Matua were the ripest to reach Lyttelton for 12 months, said the Christchurch representative of Fruit Distributors. Ltd. (Mr B. V. Porter), yesterday Drums had already been filled with rotton bananas

“We have had to open the cases and take out the ripe stuff for immediate sale,” he said. “About one-third of those we have received need to be repacked. “The bananas still in the Matua are not going to improve in the next three days " Mr Porter said that there were still 6000 cases of bananas to be discharged from the Matua at Lyttelton for South Island distribution

"The bananas will go on ripening, even though they are held in a cooler on board ship.” he said.

“The losses will be greater than normal because the ship has already been held up longer than necessary. The Lyttelton delay has not been 'he only one. The Matua was delayed in Wellington by weather and other reasons

She arrived in Wellington on Monday morning and did not leave till Wednesday evening."

Mr Porter said that from 2500 to 3000 cases of bananas were for the Christchurch area. The rest were for country areas, and other centres, including Dunedin. Timaru. Greymouth. Nelson, and Blenheim.

“We have sent some bananas from the Matua to 'hese places already." he said. “But they have more to come."