ORANGES AND BANANAS

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 7

ORANGES AND BANANAS

SOME DISLOCATION OF SUPPLY PACIFIC ISLANDS HURRICANE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 12. Hurricanes which recently struck the Pacific islands may for a short period have an adverse effect on the Dominion’s supplies of oranges and bananas, said the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay, in a statement to-night. “Fortunately, so far as oranges are concerned, New Zealand is sufficiently close to Australia to keep us supplied for the greater portion of the year,” Mr Barclay ’ said. “Normally, supplies from December onward come from the Western Hemisphere, of which the main supplying country is Jamaica. At the request of the British Ministry of Food, however, New Zealand has refrained from purchasing oranges from Jamaica, and Australia has so far been able to meet this deficiency. “ Arrangements were made for the early shipment of Cook Island oranges to arrive toward the end of this month,’’ the Minister said. “ Unfortunately, the recent hurricane has reduced, the quantity available by approximately 80 per cent, of the shipment. In spite of this, it is not anticipated that there will be any real and prolonged shortage of oranges in New Zealand, though. for a week or two supplies may be at a bare minimum. “ A somewhat similar position exists so far as bananas are concerned,” Mr Barclay added, “ The banana plantations have been affected even more seriously than the orange groves, and this is particularly the case in Rarotonga, one of our main sources of supply. There may, therefore, be come slight dislocation in supplies of bananas in New Zealand till the plantations are back to normal production. APPLES AND PEARS FLUSH SEASON NOW PUBLIC EXHORTED TO BUY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 13. An appeal to the public to buy now all the apples and pears they can is issued by Mr Barclay. The Minister said the flush season for apples and pears starts this month, and will continue till the end of May, and it is during that period that those fruits should be consumed to the maximum extent. ALEXANDER MINE REPORT The gold returns for the month of February of Alexander Mines Limited are:— Battery department: 143 tons ore crushed for a return of 470 z sdwt -of melted gold. Cyanide department: 211 tons of sands treated for 490 z lOdwt, The total estimated value is £720. In addition: 3.5 tons of concentrates were saved, valued at £l3O. In estimating values, gold has been taken at 160 s per fine ounce.