AUSTRALIAN ORANGES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ORANGES

Competition With Island Fruit “ROUGH ON THE GROWERS” "It is very difficult to understand tr.e action of the Hon. W. Nash in permitting the importation into New Zealand of 50.000 cases of South Australian oranges in June, July and August,” said a Wellington wholesale fruit merchant yesterday. "These oranges will be in direct competition witli the Island oranges which are just coming to hand, and it is a decision that is going to wreck the chances of Cook Island growers of getting any profit at ail this season, for the simple reason that tlie Island oranges cannot compete on a satisfactory basis with t'he Australian navel oranges.

“In 1934, South Australian oranges were not admitted to New Zealand (nmler Government permit) until August. in order to give tlie Island growers, chiefly those in Rarotonga and Aitntaki. a chance to get something for their fruit in this market. But last year South Australian oranges were allowed to come here ■" July, and this year they are tv be allowed to come in June. There are some 6000 cases of Island oranges on the Cape Horn at Auckland at present. and 12.000 cases are due to arrive at Wellington from Rarotonga on Monday next by the Maunganui. “New Zealand cannot absorb the Island shipments plus 50.000 cases from South Australia in three months with any satisfaction lo growers. I have been under the impression that the Government wished to protect the Cook Island growers of oranges on this market, but the Minister’s action does not appear to fit in witli that view as far as I can judge. I could imagine him easing the embargo had there been a destructive hurricane in tlie Cook Group, but just when tlie growers are beginning to recover from Die last visitation they are to be confronted with this competition from South Australia. It is rough on them.”