SUPPLY OF ORANGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1937, Page 12

SUPPLY OF ORANGES

MAYOR-DOCTOR’S ADVOCACY

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

INVERCARGILL, April 26

The need for better supplies of oranges in New Zealand was stressed by the Mayor of Riverton, Dr. N. G Trotter, when addressing the Minister of Lands, Hon. F. Langstone, at a civic reception, to-night. The Minister, in his reply, said that ararngements are in train for receiving supplies of oranges from the Cook Islands,- and it was hoped, also, to arrange for reciprocal trade with Australia, so that supplies of oranges could he obtained from the Commonwealth.

The Mayor said that, as a doctor, he was vitally interested in maintaining the health of the community. It was well known that citrus fruits played an important part in maintaining health. There was an abundance of oranges in Australia, and there should be no necessity for a shortage while there were plenty near at hand. JTie Government was interested in encouraging physical culture, but he asserted that little could be done without adequate supplies of the important Vitamin C, represented by citrus fruits.

.The Minister said that the Government was dealing with this problem. Mr J. S. Smith, the Secretary of the Cook Island Group, had been sent to the Cook Islands to endeavour to make suitable arrangements for supplies of fruit that would be satisfactory to the Islanders and to the consumers. It was necessary to see that the oranges were landed and .marketed in New Zealand under the best arrangement possible. Mr Langstone said he hoped that the day was not far distant when reciprocal trade could be arranged with Australia. There was no reason why there should be any dearth of oranges here, because New Zealand was frightened of the Mediterranean fly, or that there should be a shortage of potatoes in Australia when there was plenty here, because they did not like scabby blight. It was lhe aim of the Government to try to arrange for the trade between the two countries to be as even as possible.