FIJI FRUIT TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18041, 16 March 1922, Page 7

FIJI FRUIT TRADE.

GRIEVANCE OVER PRICES.

PROPOSAL BY PLANTERS.

RESTRICTION OF SHIPMENTS

The banana planters of Fiji are apparently far from satisfied with the prices they have been receiving for their product, and havie decided upon a form of concerted action by which the supply of their fruit to the New Zealand market will be regulated. Their attitude is explained in a paragraph published in tho Paoifio Age of Suva, on March 7, as follows :—

"Several of the leading banana planters have been getting their heads together with regard to the feeding of the New Zealand fruit market, and as a result we have been asked to state that it is generally considered that shippers will be serving their own interests, and those of the lentire trade, best if tney shit) only a minimum of fruit by the next New Zealand steamer. It stands to reason that, with the present state of tho market, it will oav better to throw fruit away than to pay freight on it. A small shipment will probably result in good prices being obtained." This matter was referred to local fruit merchants yesterday, and it was learned that one of' the chief causes of complaint is that the vessel from Fiji usually reaches Auckland about the same tim.e as the San Francisco steamer arrives at Wellington with bananas from Rarotonga, floodine both markets at the one time, and leaving the merchants without supplies, for tho greater part of a month, until the arrival of the next steamers. On occasions when this does not occur Auckland merchants find an outlet for their surplus in Wellington and vico versa. The Tofua's Last Shipment. It is thought that the return from the cargo landed from the Tofua earlier in the month has caused the Fiji planters to take action. As a rule, about one-third of the shipments from Fiji is absorbed in Auckland City and suburbs, tho remainder going to the country districts and southern centres. The delay in uploading the Tofua on her last trip, due to unfavourable weather, resulted in much Of the cargo landing in _ an over-ripe condition, necessitating quick sales. Ino outcome was that the few green bananas landed sold at 12s per case, most of the ripe fruit from 4s to 7s per case arid the badly-damagod fruit as low as 2s 6d per case* It is sUted that the grower m normal times must get the equivalent erf 8s 6d per case, f.o.b. Suva, in order to get a reasonable return for his labour and outlay, and unless he gets on an average from 13s to 15s per case on the New Zealand market he is not § running h« business on a profitable basis. The Fiji exporter, who buys from the native grower, is called upon to pay a higher Mice for bananas when the Christmas season is approaching and he looks to get a higher return at the year-end sales. \i the sales immediately preceding Christmas bananas sold at 10s per case with first quality fruit at 18s to fla. A week later average quality fruit realised 10s to 13s per case, and the following week, when the market was comparatively bare, as high as 28s per case was obtained for ripe bananas, with from 5s to 8s for inferior fruit. Special Steamers Advocated. It is argued in Auckland that until suitable steamers, built specially for the trade, are put on to the Island trade, these haphazard conditions will prevail. It is contended that what is wanted is two small, fast steamers with proper cooling Apparatus, following an itinerary that will allow of cargoes being landed at regular two-weekly intervals. There is general agreement that growers and shippers could improve conditions by exercising greater supervision • in the selection of fruit, and if tbev are going to throw any fruit away it should be tie small immature fruit which has formed quite a proportion of recent cargoes. The largest consignment of tiji banana* landed in Auckland during the last 12 months was 24,120 cases in November, and the smallest 11,650 in January of this year, the average being about 17,400. It is estimated that the Navua will land about 14,000 cases next During the financial year now ending Auckland has had only six boats from the Eastern Pacifio and during that time the mail-boats have taken approximately 60,000 cases of bananas to Wellington, closing that market to Auckland importers. Cargoes Prom the Cook Islands. There was no boat from the Cook and Society Islands in April and May of last year, and there has been no steamer from those groups since November, when the Flora was laid up. In the six trips made last year the Flora carried an average of about 1915 cases of bananas, 6700 cases of oranges, and 3300 cases of tomatoes. Tle total shipments from the Cook Islands for the six trips, including miscellaneous lines such as kumaras, lemons, etc., was 75 667, as against a total of 114,767 for the previous year. She also carried 5510 c?ses of oranires from the Society Islands, as against 12,547 cases for the preceding year. The first shipment of the new season's oranges from the Cook Islands is due at Wellington at the end of next week, and it is probable that tho Flora will resume her running to the Eastern Pacific at the end of this month, when full cargoes should be offering. The Tongans are now looking to Auckland as an outlet for their bananas, and it is understood the Government has instructed the natives to commence planting, with a view to shipping to this port.