BANANA IMPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 6

BANANA IMPORTS

CONTROL BY STATE

TROUBLE AT RAROTONGA

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, April 4. Strong disapproval of Government control of the importation of bananas, [which, became effective on the arrival 'of a. shipment'of 3000 cases from' Fin i by,,the- Niagara today, is expressed in a private cablegram received in Auckland from-Mr. W. J. Wigmore, one of the largest planters at Rarotonga. In addition to areas at Earotonga, plantations in the Society Islands are owned by Mr. Wigmore, who has been engaged in the industry for over 30 years.

The cablegram stated that a large majority of growers had .refused to ship bananas as they didi not approve I of the new prices regulations and arbi- < itrary methods of administration. _ I The Chief Medical Officer at Raro-j I tonga is stated to have announced pub-] licly that 75 per cent, of 'trie '"Natives, were living in poverty and-large growers were selling their supplies of j bananas to relieve the poverty.' Commenting on the message," Mr." P. R. Picot, Director-General of Internal Marketing, said' no"^ trouble of this nature had come to his knowledge. He admitted that the quantities-, coming from Rarotonga might be lower in future, but this deficiency would be made up with larger shipments from Fiji and Samoa. He gave a definite assurance that there would be rib shortage of bananas in New Zealand after Easter, as; all available shipping space-would be taken in order to ensure ample supplies. There had been an abnormal demand tliis season owing to the particularly long summer. The fact that there had been a partial strike of some sort at Rarotonga was admitted by Mr. E. C. Turned, of Turners and Growers, Ltd., but full particulars were not available. Only 700 cases had been loaded at Harotonga by the Matua, which is due to arrive at Auckland on April 18. This' shortage, however, would be made up when the vessel called at Tonga, Apia, and Suva, and the position was not regarded as serious.

The cargo brought by the Niagara was carried on deck, as there are no special facilities for the carriage of fruit. The shipment arrived in fairly good condition, but it is not expected to be sufficient to meet the demand until1 the arrival of the Matua. The fruit was loaded at Suva on consignment from the Fiji Government to the New 'Zealand Government, ;