DIRECT FRUIT SHIPMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 April 1934, Page 2

DIRECT FRUIT SHIPMENTS

STATEMENT BY MR- BRUNT With reference to the Nelson Harbour Board discussion on the question of direct fruit shipments, Mr Brunt, Shipping Supervisor, told a “Mail ’ representative that lie regrets be was quite unable to attend the Harbour Board meeting on Monday owing to pressure of work in the Motucka district. Had lte been present the required information would have been supplied, with the result that members would have bad a better understanding of the difficulties experienced at times in completing allotments both at Wellington and Nelson. Mr Brunt stated that all allotments bad* to be finalised well in advance of actual shipments, and it was often found that owing to climatic conditions, etc., the estimated quantities did not come to hand during the period of loading. The first consideration in connection with the completion of all allotments • was the growers’ interests from the point of view of prompt despatch, the condition of the fruit and economical handling; and when all these factors are taken into consideration it was at times advisable to divert certain quantities to Wellington, particularly if fast mail steamers such as the Rangitiki and Tamaroa sailing on a definite date, had not completed their allotments and there was a risk of growers having to pay for the dead space. This season an endeavour is being made to load fruit at Nelson for the Continent per the Port Alma and Port Gisborne; and in addition a record loading has been made per the Nebraska. “It must be recognised,” said Mr Brunt, “that when a vessel is loading at Nelson for one destination fruit coming to hand for all other destinations must be diverted to Wellington. Another point which should be noted is that all vessels are stowing particularly well this season. For instance, the Nebraska allotment for Nelson was 115,000 cases apples and pears. The actual stowage at Nelson was 110,494 cases, leaving a balance of 4506 cases on the allotment. Actually space for a further 10,000 cases was available, and this quantity is being stowed on board the Nebraska at Wellington to-day, the vessel being despatched on Thursday morning.” Air Brunt added that apart from the Port Gisborne loading at the present time 36,000 cases for the Continent, the Maliia was due to load 32,000 cases for London from 24th to 27th April. This would give five direct loadings for the season, lifting a total of about 251,000 cases, which would represent approximately 2& per cent, of the total export. With reference to the Easter holidays, the closing down of the assembly depots during the holidays had no bearing on the completion of the Nebraska allotment, as the vessel did not complete loading until the sth inst. The opening of the assembly depots on Easter Saturday would no doubt be of assistance to most growers in clearing their sheds, particularly when Easter falls at an early date; but there was always a difficulty in clearing the wharf sheds owing to the intervening holidays interfering with shipping arrangements. The actual receipts on Easter Thursday wei’e 30,000 cases and on Easter Tuesday 35,000 cases. / Referring again to the Nebraska loading, Mr Brunt stated that owing to the limited space available, it was absolutely essential to divert certain quantities to complete immediate loadings at Wellington in order to avoid a possible space shortage later in the season.