FRUIT EXPORT MATTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 3 April 1926, Page 7

FRUIT EXPORT MATTERS

CONGESTION IN WELLINGTON STORES Mr Napier, manager of the Now Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federal ion. Wellington, made a statement to a Dost- reporter on Thursday regarding trim congestion in Wellington. 'The position, said Mr Napier, was that prior to the commencement of the actual shipping season, the growers made contracts for the amount- of space they required for the season, giving the quantities for each month. 'The total quantity booked by the Nelson growers up to 31st March was 176.170 cases, upon which figures were based the applications for space to the Allotment Commit let-, plus a small surplus usually provided to meet possible augmentations. The total Nelson shipments. however, were 258.00 eases to 31st March, a surplus of 75,000 cases on the actual bookings. A big endeavour bad been made by the Fruit Expert Control Hoard to provide storage space and the Overseas A Holme;:! Committee bad done everything possible to meet the requests, but, it was impossible, when the steamers' refrigerating space bad been allotted, to make any further provision. During March, which was recognised as a heavy shipping month, fruit was coming forward in larger quantities than could be handled by the Harbour Boards available space, and arrangements were made lo utilise tin Motneka and Hastings stores for holding over the fruit: but it was only <i short time before those stores wore filled also, and it was again necessan for tile ('mil ml Hoard to agree to accept further fruit from these districts at Wellington. “Everything possible lias been do no to meet the situation which lias arise,, but it will lie evident to everybody who studies the above figures that a sligliL hold-up had lo occur to cope with the large quantity of fruit in band. “If the growers had been held to their contracts it would have meant that a large quantity of fruit would have been packed for (export markets, and growers would have snll'ered accordingly. It was not the wish of anyone to hold up the fruit from Nelson, but it was apparent that ns Easter was drawing near it would he better lo stop all allotments than to forward further fruit to Wellington with the probable risk of it lying there during the holidays. “After Easter it is anticipated iliat the shipping available will be able to cope with the quantity coming forworn. The Tongariro is completing the loading to-day of 4 1.000 cases, the Athene..is now loading 21),000 cases, on 'Tuesday and Wednesday the Tnrakina will load 14,500 cases, 'and the week following Easter the Argyllshire, taking 30,000 cases, mid the Port Victor, tailing 35.000 cases, will further alleviate the situation, so that from now onwards, il growers do not send in 100, much. the position should improve." Later on the Waimana will take 1 1.500 cases for Argent ilia.