GROWERS' HEAVY LOSS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 12

GROWERS' HEAVY LOSS

MARKETING OF FRUIT

DELAY ON WATERFRONT

The serious effect that delays in transport and'in handling the goods on the wharves was having on the fruit trade in Wellington was indicated today by a member of a local fruit marketing concern. As a result, he said, of a "stop-work" meeting held by the waterside workers this morning, for example, thousands of cases of fruit from overseas and from other parts of New Zealand would not reach the market until too late for the average buyer; and 'if the fruit were kept unitl tomorrow it would so deteriorate that it would realise only about half of its normal price.

Today was a particularly'busy one for the fruit trade. The Union Company's steamer Matua arrived from the Islands with 4000 cases of bananas, of which there has been a serious shortage in Wellington shops; the Maunganui arrived from ■ Sydney; with fruit from Australia; and the Arahura brought a double quantity from Nek son owing to the holiday there yesterday. In addition to this already abnormally large amount, the Rangatira brought fruit from Central Otago and other fruit-growing districts of the .South Island. Taking this into consideration, continued "The Post's" informant, it was obvious that for the fruit to ■ reach the market, where sales began at 8.30 a.m., work on the waterfront would need to be busy. But the waterside workers held a "stop-work" meeting, which lasted until nearly 10 o'clock. Such occurrences as these cut the grower's prices in two,, .and he usually promptly sent his fruit to other centres for disposal.

The transport of fruit by rail, also, was not always satisfactory. It was mentioned that a consignment of fruit had been sent by train from Central Otago on Sunday, and had not arrived here until this morning; this fruit, then, which had been picked on Saturday, would not be sold until Thursday, when its value had been halved.

It was essential.for the grower, the retailer, and the pub)<c that fruit should reach the shops in as short a time after picking as possible; but when delays such as,these occurred it was impossible for the public to receive fruit in good condition, or for the grower to realise sufficient prices.