WASTAGE OF FRUIT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 144, 3 June 1936, Page 9

WASTAGE OF FRUIT

Island Growers’ Claims

FUNGI ON ORANGES (Bl Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 2. Evidence by traders aud growers aud by a scientist upon fruit wastage was heard by the industries aud commerce committee ot the House ot Representatives in the matter of the petitions from the native growers in the Cook Islands, one for an advisory board aud tho other for a formation of a fruit control board. Last week a large volume of evidence was taken and it was hoped to conclude the sitting this week. The chairman of tho committee, Air. W. J. Jordan, presided and evidence concerning wastage in Cook Islands fruit was given by Dr. G. H. Cunningham, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, to show that tho deterioration of the fruit was due to fungi which attacked orange skins. Raitia Tepuretu, a native grower, said that many children on the islands had no clothing, so could not attend school Some families were so poor that they were living on dog flesh. Air. S J. Smith, secretary of the Cook Islands Department, said it was news to him that the natives were eating dog flesh. Judge Alson said he had never heal'd of the natives eating dog flesh. There was no necessity for it, as there was plenty of food on the Islands,

Air. Duncan Munro, a planter, said ho could not obtain space from the Union Steamship Company tor his fruit unless he sold to traders at their own price. The want of effective distribution and “niicklkiman control” had spelt disaster to the growers and disap. pointinent to the consumer. Air. J. A. Grimwood, of the Union Company, said that, an estimate of space requirements had to .be made at least 15 days before loading date. If the total requirement exceeded tbe capacity ot the vessel, space was pro rata among all the applicants on I lie basis ol their shipments during previous years. It might happen that a native who had not shipped in his own name the previous ;ear might find himself without space. Mr. E. G. Robertson, of Alarket Gar. dens Lto , Wellington, said his firm was neither a member of the local Fruitbrokers’ Association nor the New Zealand I'ruii Merchants Federation, hut he held that no fruit ‘‘ring” existed.