A USELESS FRUIT SHIPMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19700, 29 January 1926, Page 3

A USELESS FRUIT SHIPMENT.

XO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Wednesday morning’s issue of the Otago Daily Times Contains a number of mis-statements in regard to the shipment of oranges and lemons received from Australia. I think it is only fair to the local importers that the public should be conversant with the facte. Early in December the local agent of a Melbourne firm offered local brokers choice quality oranges and lemons at prices ranging from 12s to 15s per case, f.0.b., Melbourne. The fruit was guaranteed to be in perfect condition, of good sizes, free from disease of all description, and carefully packed in full bushel cases. A number of the local brokers ordered, anticipating a good delivery prior to the Christmas holiday. In due course the fruit arrived and the first notification that the local brokers had that something was wrong was a telephone message from local agent stating that the lemons were being condemned as unfit for human consumption, and were being sent to the destructor, and that the oranges were in hopeless condition, and did not in any way comply with the terms of purchase. Further, the local agent advised importers that he could not in the circumstances expect them to accept delivery. The local brokers interested "inspected the fruit and found that it not in any instance comply with their orders. Naturally, the lemons being condemned and the oranges being bine mouldy, rotten and scaley, the importers could not accept delivery, and they cabled the Melbourne firm j explaining the position. Further, the local agent was advised and he cabled Melbourne on four different occasions, advising that the local importers had agreed to take the oranges without prejudice, to have the fruit cleared, re-packed, and sold, hut to the applications made by the members of our association and also by the local agent, we have not to this day received a single word in reply. Now, naturally, the Union Company is looking for someone to take delivery of the fruit, so that it can claim charges. Had the shippers met the local brokers there would have been no difficulty. The fruit that was not condemned and burnt, would have been cleared, re-packed, and sold. It was not a question of the market being glutted, and we much regret the imputation that our local brokers shielded themselves behind a techndcai breach to avoid responsibility. The position is as stated above, and on behalf of the Dunedin importers I respectfully suggest that an apology is due to the local brokers for the insinuation cast.—l am, etc., E. Oswald Reilly, President of the Fruit Brokers’ Association. January 28.