ISLAND FRUIT

Evening Star, Issue 22353, 1 June 1936, Page 15

ISLAND FRUIT

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT STRICTER SUPERVISION ADVOCATED Suggestions for the supply of fruit of an improved quality to the New Zealand market have bPen made by Mr A. H. Ncwall, the secretary of the South Island Retail Fruiterers’ Association, who recently gave evidence before the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives. In particular Mr Ncwall stresses the necessity of the Government exercising a strict supervision of the growing, grading, and shipping of fruit from the Cook Islands, thus developing a trade which should make the Dominion independent of foreign markets and giving the planter a failreturn.

The chief aim of his association, said Mr Newali, in an interview on Saturday, was to provide the public with the best, possible quality fruit at a reasonable price. In so far as the Government’s aims were compatible with that principle, the association could assure the Government and the growers that any measures taken to improve the Islands trade would receive its hearty support. The recent decision of the Government to maintain the embargo on Australian supplies and aliovv_ only restricted quantities to come in under special license indicated that that was one of the measures of assistance for the Island produce. If that was the case —-and it was admitted by the department—the association entered a most emphatic protest. Fruits of all kinds were of importance in diet. When it was considered that the enormous production of oranges, from the huge acreage under cultivation in Australia and in the South Seas Islands, was left entirely in a large measure to Nature, without the application of scientific methods, he thought it was to he deplored that the people of New Zealand had for the past few years been deprived and in some cases starved of one of the most essential foods that went towards the building of a healthy race of people. Instead of citrus fruits being made purchaseable by all classes of the community, they had been made available only to the' wealthy.

There had been_ heavy losses in the Raratongan fruit industry, and planters were faced with the Tact that it was at present a non-payable proposition. While better marketing conditions and better distribution might help the position, he did not like to make any forecast until the quality and standardisation of the products were improved to a large degree. Until the products could be landed in all parts of New Zealand in first-class condition, losses and troubles would bo the ultimate result.

During the last few years no advanc«ment had been made in the quality of the Rarotongau orange. The latest scientific methods had to he used in producing quality fruit that would meet the public demand and bo competitive. Island fruit could not compare with fruit that came from other countries. It seemed futile to attempt to force it upon the public by restricting an abundant supply from the Commonwealth. The main factor concerning the Raratongan oranges was their very poor keeping quality, especially when ripe. Practically nojsland fruit arrived in Otago or Southland on direct consignment or on a purchasing basis from, the growers, and supplies that arrived wore at the discretion of the Auckland and Wellington merchants. The fruit was rarely repacked before transhipping, and consequently deterioration was rapid. To advocate direct consignments to Otago and Southland would again he difficult to put into operation.

The general appearance of the Island fruit when compared with fruit from other sources did not command public support. The quality of bananas from the Cook Islands had also gone back during the last few years, said Mr Newall. Tlie fruit was poor, undersized, thin, and immature, and only fit to he purchased at non-productive prices. Samoan bananas were the finest that arrived in the South Island, a credit to the growers and to those who had the supervision of the packing. Very little improvement had been made to the containers of Rarotongan fruit, while the Samoan bananas were marketed in .fighter case*.

It had been rumoured, said Mr Newall, that the auctioneer was the one who made all the profit out of Rarotongan fruit. Ho was not prepared to debate this point, hut would say that if any profit were made by them it was largely made possible by the actions of the Into Government in giving them protection by placing an embargo on Australian fruit. The auctioneer and the retailor were essential to the profitable marketing of a product. Extremely rigid grading of the Island oranges was advocated by Mr Newall, who was of the opinion that only the highest quality fruit should he allowed to bo shipped under strict supervision to ho carried out by Government inspectors. Thus a large portion of the poor fruit which was carrying any infection of disease would be destroyed at the Islands. This would be far more satisfactory and economical than having portions' of shipments arriving here in a bad condition, only to bo dumped on arrival in New Zealand after the payment of freight charges, cost of cases, and other charges, ‘ As a result better prices would bo obtained for the prime quality fruit. Ho also suggests that an improvement of the appearance of the cases be made on the lines of the Australian and other producers. There should be, contended Mr Newall, a gradual system of replanting in the Cook Islands under the supervision of an experienced citrus fruit export, this replanting to bo done with a view to giving special consideration to variety and the general appearance of the fruit. Trees which had outlived their commercial value should be uprooted and burned, for, if allowed to remain, they only become a breeding place for posts and disease. There should be a development of the growing of grape fruit, particularly in view of the good quality of this variety that Jamaica is producing and sending to New Zealand. He was certain that the same quality fruit could bo produced in the Cook Islands. Suggestions had been made concerning a cool store at the Cook Islands, said Dir Newall, but he thought that to cool oranges there in the presentcondition would prove a disaster. First consideration must be given to the elimination of disease rather than the provision of cool storage. There should also bo assistance in respect to the reduction of costs, and an overhaul of inspection charges - . Financial assistance should also be made to planters, the Government to subsidise ‘ them until such time as the plantations were

brought to a standard that would produce high quality fruits. “ To ensure the consuming public of New Zealand a full supply of oranges, increased importations of Australian oranges must bo admitetd to the Dominion until such time as the Cook Islands can supply our needs.” said Mr Newell. “ There is no reason why the Island trade should not lie developed to such an extent, after the suggested remedies have been applied, as to make New Zealand independent of Australia and some foreign markets, and give the planter a fair return.”