THE ISLAND FRUIT TRADE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17153, 1 October 1926, Page 3

THE ISLAND FRUIT TRADE

PROPER. METHOD URGED. BETTER SFII IM'ING FACILITIES'. SUGGESTION,BY AN EXPERT. "If one valley was properly cultivated it would produce as much fruit as the whole island,” remarked Mr. C. H. Slater, the well-known fruit expert of Hastings, when discussing the Rarotonga. fruit export industry. Mr. Slater lias just returned from a trip to the island and made some interesting observations concerning the trade as it affects New Zealand. Speaking of tomato growing lie said tiie patches at Rarotonga wqre small and of from an eighth of an acre to an acre in extent. The production of the plant •was well cultivated with plenty of growth, but the plant itself was not so sturdy as those grown in New Zealand. The tomato was paler in color and more sinewy, and the vines were staked up to about six feet. Blight was prevalent. Owing to the low prices ruling in New Zealand, however, the Rarotonga growers were unable to buy manures and spray materials. In Mr. Slater’s opinion this state of affairs was disastrous. He thought the people concerned should he given some sort of an advance so that they could treat, their crops in a proper manner. “To grow tomatoes year after year on the same ground without treatment only means one end,” said Mr. Slater, “A large number of the island’s tomatoes should never be shipped to New Zealand. If growers grew half the, number of plants and manured and sprayed to advantage they would be much heller off.” HOW ABOUT ORANGES? “How about the oranges?” ho was asked. “Much to my surprise ilic oranges at Rarotonga, are all growing wild,” he replied. “There are no groves as one would expect to find and Micro is little or no cultivation. There are practically no fences on the island and any native lias a, right to go on any property and take food. The. only protection I saw was a rope, or a piece of wire stretched between trees.” “ What about the animals (hen V” “Oh, they are kept on a lether. l’igs arc kept under trees and tied up by ono of their front legs. While some of these animals looked healthy, others again had more of the appearance of a greyhound than a pig.” Referring again to the oranges, Mr. Slater said the methods adopted in handling them was very crude and in his opinion the bushes were deteriorating. Some of the trees had been allowed to grow so high that the fruit could not be picked per medium of a step-ladder. Natives climbed the trees and knocked the oranges off with a. stick. “There must be a tremendous amount of fruit lost and bruised in this way,” remarked' Mr. Slater. “Again, there appeared to be too many owners. If one valley was properly' cultivated it would produce as much fruit as the whole island does to-dav. If a cop-opera-tive scheme could be adopted and the whole centralised for packing and grading in store, the advantages to the growers would, in my opinion he very great indeed. You see,” he continued, “under present conditions, the natives have to stop picking oranges four days before the boat, departs, and then there are three days tor inspection, and this shortens the life of the oranges. Again, there are the fruit fly regulations, and these also help in the direction indicated. Handling at the wharf is also a crude business, and the native laborers seem to take a huge delight in throwing the cases of fruit about. They have no idea of how it should be handled. The large boats lay off about half a mile and the cases of fruit are taken off in punts towed by motor launches. When the ,sea is rough the consignments are covered with salt water.” NEW SHIPPING FACILITIES URGED. ‘,‘Howr about shipping facilities?” “Well, the Union Company appear to do all they can to carry the fruit properly. The ship’s holds are always open and blasts of fresh air are sent down. But there is only one alternative to the present method of carrying the fruit so that it will arrive in good condition.” remarked Mr. Slater, “and that is to provide a. specially constructed vessel for the island fruit trade. Till that is done there will always be trouble.” “And the banana trade?” “There was a hurricane last April and the plantations are just beginning to recover at Rarotonga,” he answered. “The banana crop is only just starting. The fruit is immature, but on account of the high prices ruling in New Zealand, the natives have forced some on the market.” “It might seem strange to the people here,” Mr. Slater proceeded, “but the cocoanut plantations are really the only ones which are being cared for. Rais have destroyed many acres, however, arid it has been estimated that seventylive per cent, of the crop has been lost through the rodents. All the land in Rarotonga is leasehold, and no Europeans can buy. They look after th'eir copra plantations because it brings £2O per ton. A well-grown cocoanut produces half a, pound of copra. The nuts ago gathered when they fall and placed in heaps. A native then goes round with an axe, cuts them in two, and the kernel is taken out aild placed on wire netting to dry. Tile operation is similar to. the way We dry walnuts in New Zealand.”—Hawke’s Bay Herald.