ISLAND FRUIT TRADE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 60

ISLAND FRUIT TRADE.

Mr. Albert E. GL-over,. of Auckland', who- is- a large dealer in island fruits, has, just returned from a trip to Mangala,,, one of tiro Friendly group of islands.. He told a representative of the “Star’’ that the natives have made a •wonderful recovery from the effects of the* hurricane- of last year; indeed, they aare- beginning to Took npon it a® a blessing! in disguise, for it had the effect o£ destroying fruit pasts; so that splendid crops, followed. In answer to a question as to whether the islanders might suffer from our proposed reciprocal trad® with Australia —in the event, for example of Australian fruit being admitted; free of duty—Mr Glover said: — “That would be detrimental to them, of course-. In fact the people of the islands have been urging the Government to put a tax on all fruit imported into New Zealand from outside places, sueh as the Society Islands (French). and other territories. I fancy the Government will not comply because the result would be that countervailing duties would naturally be imposed upon exports to those places- from New Zealand. Our merchants send large quantities; of stuff to Samoa (German), Fiji (British), Tahiti (French), and other countries, and r admit it would be against the bast commercial interests of Auckland to drift injbo a retaliatory tariff. But I think great good could be done in another way. If the New Zealand Government would instruct the fruit grader or some other expert to- teach the natives haw to/ grow such, fruits- as tomatoes great good would result. I brought some excellent tomatoes, green peas,, and French beans back with me on Friday, and all the time I was in the Islands I had these tilings in abundance. They can be grown there all the year round, and with proper instruction the natives could supply them to New Zealand all through our winter and spring, when they are not obtainable here. In regard to' ltumaras, the island of Manga?iu alone could supply all the needs of New Zealand all through- the year., The- trip, from-, the islands, does not occupy more than about a week/