ISLAND FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 130, 3 June 1936, Page 17

ISLAND FRUIT

WHAT IS WRONG?

A TRADER'S OPINION

"Wc have not had a great deal of help from witnesses," said Mr. C. R. Petrie, M.P. (Hauraki), a member of the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives inquiring into the Cook Islands fruit trade, when the questioning of Mr. Robert McKegg, a trading exporter in the Cook Islands, was resumed after the luncheon adjournment yesterday. "It seems as though something is being kept back. Is there anybody exploit ing the natives in these Islands at all? Mr. McKegg: I know of no one. Competition in the Island trade is much too keen for that. n "The natives are seeking control, said Mr. Petrie. "From whom or against what? They want protection. Somebody is getting more out of them than they want to give." Mr. McKegg: Their viewpoint might be wrong. Mr. Petrie: You have been there for 25 years. You must know the hopeless state of the position. You could tell us what you think is wrong, and what will put it right. Mr. McKegg: What is wrong is the quality of the fruit which is being shipped. I have shipped oranges and bananas for years and have done very well. If other growers would do as I have done to improve my fruit, they would get prices which would please them very well, but they must get better fruit.

Mr. Petrie: There seems to be a weakness somewhere in the marketing. Mr. McKegg: The weakness is that after wharfage and other charges have been paid on top of the purchase price 30 per cent, of the fruit is bad. It is the double landed cost which makes the cost of which the public complain, while the fruit is not worth the 3s per case first paid for it to the Island purchasers."