ROTTEN CHANGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18772, 28 July 1924, Page 8

ROTTEN CHANGES.

QOOK I6LANDB SHIPMENT, M.P/S WITNESS DISCHARGE. NEED FOR FASTER SERVICE* [Br TELEGRAPH.—-SPECIAL REPORTER. ] ? WELLINGTON. Saturday. At the invitation of the Auckland Fruit Importers' Association a number of members of Parliament were present at the discharge of oranges and other island cargo from tho Ngakuta this morning. Among the members present were Messrs. W. Bitchener, W. J. Jordan, Holland, Savage, Lye, Bartrara and A. Bell. They .witnessed part 6f the wharf strewn with rotten oranges and collapsed cases. Oranges were spread out on the decking in the sheds, oranges in cases "weeping" juice all along the wharf from the ship's side to stacks. Auckland and local importers explained the position to the members, who showed keen' interest in the whole business. Information of tho condition of thu cargo had been conveyed from the ship by wireless, and was to the effect that tomatoes were carrying splendidly, bananas likewise, but that a large percentage of thft oranges were over ripe and in bad condition. The Wellington portion of the cargo turned out as abpve described, but as there was a very large number of cases in which only a few mouldy oranges were discernible it may be that on sorting the percentage of loss will be much reduced on what it appears at present. The Ngakuta is taking on the Auckland portion of the cargo this afternoon. | The bad condition of the shipment is attributed by those in the shipping part of the trade to two causcs :— (1) Unusually severe weafther, technically the " act of God," and (2) the shipment of fruit in a I condition unsuitable for tho voyage This ! may be described as " the act of man." It was ssiid that carelessness in packing bruised and " thorned'" fruit., with that perfectly sound was responsible for a very great part of the trouble. More experience, and certainly more thorough ness in packing and grading for the market is necessary on the part of shippers. The fraifc, if bruised in picking or p&ckI ■ ing, will turn rotten and spread through the cases or if " thorned," that is ' pricked, it will likewise quickly deteriorate and rot sound fruit in contact. The fruit in any case was shipped too late m tfle season and therefore over-ripe, but | to make matters worse the Ngakuta eni countered particularly bad weather and ! was two full days lata in geiting to We] lington. She had to "run" from Man gaia, • owsng to severe weather, without completing loading from there. Tni> usual report made by the master Of the ship, Captain Grey, coutains the following paragraphs bearing on the mat ter>:-~" Mangaia fruit brought oft in cases was very ripe and came aboard wet with both salt and fresh water. Aitntaki fruit shipped in whaleboats was in good condition and came aboard prime, Earotonga oranges shipped ex lighters were very ripo.ahd a lot of them were mildewy in the cases. The tomatoes and bananas were in very good order." Mr. G. S. Radley, fruit importer of Auckland, said Wellington might be shocked at the shipment, but Auckland was used to that kind of thing. "Wo want a faster and more suitable boat for the trade," he said. "Fruit is iauioi in better condition in the mail boats. We have had this kind of thing in Auckland again and again. . The trouble is not now. Our loses of this kind are from a quarter to. three-quarters of the shipments from the Islands at this particular time oi! the year." '

THE EXPORT OF FRUIT.

MARKED INCREASE SHOWN.

' GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

fBX TELEGItAPH.—OWN*

R RESPONDENT.] >N. Saturdaj.

It is expected that the export of cases of fruit for the current season will show an increase of over 240,000 or 80,000 more than .the increase for last season. The prospects of the fruit industry are improving and it is stated that the substantial assistance granted to growers by the Government guarantee of a penny per pwmd net return on fruit exported and by the help afforded in other directions has improved the conditions of the industry.