Samoan Banana Trade

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 15, 12 October 1932, Page 11

Samoan Banana Trade

Sir, —What is the ultimate objective of the Samoan banana trade? Is it merely to ensure that all fruit should be marketed green or is it to provide such quality as to give consumers the greatest satisfaction? Mr. V. C. Goddard, of Messrs. Turner and Growers, Ltd., Auckland, is reported to have stated that the consignment just landed is • the best the Maui Pomare has yet brought.” Such a statement implies that the speaker has knowledge of every shipment so far landed. Is this so? This consignment contained a large proportion of immature fruit, and in consequence Mr. Goddard's statement would appear to give the affirmative to my first alternative. In view of the fact that immature fruit is rarely found to ripen satisfactorily, it is difficult to believe that import of such fruit is best for the trade. Retail prices run the gamut from six to twenty and thirty a shilling, and there is little doubt but that much of this latest consignment will, owing to its immaturitv, find its way into the latter category. . . . Properly-matured fruit will realise higher average prices and give greater satisfaction to consumers I While there has undoubtedly been improvement in quality of fruit shipped in the course of the last three years or more, during which period I have personally seen almost every consignment, failure to land in good order is not, in my opinion, attributable in any way to want of knowledge or care at the Samoan end, and it will be a calamity if the Maui Pomare is to he pandered to by unnecessarily sacrificing quality to ensure safe transport. For the venture to be truly successful, and I am fully convinced there is nothing to prevent it being made so, quality is the paramount consideration. Moreover, the Maui Pomare can and must bring bigger and better cargoes I—l1 —I am, etc., C. GIBSON YOUNG. Ixiwsc Hutt, Octobec &.