THE FRUIT SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 210, 29 May 1908, Page 10

THE FRUIT SUPPLY.

IBT TEI.EGRArn—ntESS ASSOCIATION ) *

; Auckland, May 28. Ono' of .the leading fruit merchants, of Auckland, in speaking of tho new, fruit regulations to-day, said that whilo all" those with the interests of the New Zealand fruit in-, dustry- at heart naturally wished to. seo ail due precaution taken for tho exclusion of the fruit-fly .pest,' it was, nevertheless; a fact that.the restrictions, .which came.into force on Mbnda.y,' will have 'a-. .very '.'serious effect' on the Auckland fruit, supply. •' 'In fact," said tho gentleman in question, "the'.-result is already being felt, and'tho Tongan orange trade'with Now Zealand has been settled. Our advico to shippers has been not,to consign, and we havo littio hope of any further shipments of fruit from tho Islands being received. . Again, :in ; tho 'case of tho--mandarin ' fruit, supply, the restrictions will liavo a diro effect. • This fruit is muchne-e<]«l just at present, and.will bo for some time to oomc,'yet,. Sydney shippors writo to us that it. will bo'almost impossible' to comply with tho regulations in consigning this fruit. To the citrus , fruit tradei it means a_ very big blow;, and the Cook Islands and California must now be.relied upon to supply our wants as far as orangos are concerned. Mandarins, however, will be most, missed. 'Now South Wales growers simply cannot oomply with tho new regulations, andthe Sydney citrus fruit'trade,: which is just commencing, will be knocked on tho head. Fortunately, tho restrictions are not likely to affect the banana trado, as this variety of fruit is generally looked upon as being immune from tho ravages of the fruit-fly, and, therefore, not subject to the conditions of the new regulations."