ORANGES FROM AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 22895, 21 May 1936, Page 4

ORANGES FROM AUSTRALIA

“50,000 CASES NOT SUFFICIENT” CRITICISM OF EMBARGO POLICY WHOLESALE TRADERS’ COMMENT.

“We are pleased to know that some stocks are coming; but we are by no means satisfied with the quantities that will be available.” That was the opinion shared by men in the wholesale fruit business when they were approached yesterday on the subject of the announcement made by the Minister of Customs (the Hon.W. Nash) that the Government had decided to relax the embargo against the importation of Australian citrus fruit by granting permission for the export to New Zealand during June, July and August of a total quantity of 50,000 cases of South Australian oranges. Probably two-thirds of that quantity would go to the North Island, it was said, and the result would be that when distribution was completed Southland s share would be smaller than the allocation for the same period last V “Oranges should come under the heading of necessaries in New Zealand, one man said. “They should not be considered a luxury food. Yet it would seem that past and present Governments have found it desirable to impose rigid restrictions on the admission and distribution of this class of fruit. In view of the available sources of supply and the need of ample quantities for consumption, this attitude seems inexplicable.” The present situation so far as the supply and distribution of oranges were concerned was most interesting when examined in the light of the announcements made in yesterday’s Southland Times. The Government presumably intended to restrict the importation of Australian oranges in order to foster the Cook Island trade. The effect to the Dominion would be, in the first place, that there would be a service to North Island ports only, with higher transhipment charges, delay in distribution, and the hastening of deterioration. Prices would rise as the oranges travelled southward and finally a product inferior in appearance, frequently unsound and certainly not developed to the standard which could be reached would arrive on the Invercargill market. “Undoubtedly the Cheapest.”

The other picture represented a direct and rapid service to convenient distribution centres, lower handling costs, a much superior product and prices adjusted to encourage consumption. “Australian oranges are undoubtedly the cheapest generally available,” the reporter was told. “We hear travellers’ tales of the Australian markets and their amazingly, low prices; but it must be remembered that oranges sold through those avenues are generally unfit for export. The oranges admitted to New Zealand from Australia during the past few years have on the whole represented the pick of the South Australian crop, suitably cured and packed. And even the fixed prices have compared satisfactorily with local Commonwealth quotations for similar quality fruit.” For all that, there were to be only 50,000 cases of Australian oranges for New Zealand during the next three months. Four times, or even five times this quantity would not be amiss, it was agreed. The point was raised why ’ South Australia should be favoured at the expense of Victoria and New South Wales. “There are orange-growing districts in both these states which are completely free from disease and which produce fruit equal to South Australia’s best,” another wholesaler said. He added that the industry would have to console itself as best it could with Mr Nash’s promise that “should it be found that supplies from the Cook Islands do not reach the quantities expected, the Government will immediately consider allowing additional importations from South Australia.” Sources of Supply. There were five sources of supply at present open to New Zealand, it was stated. In the first place there were New Zealand-grown oranges, produced in certain districts of the North Island, which were rated highly in the north. Production was only on a small scale, however, and was by no means sufficient to have any effect on existing conditions. While this industry could and should develop, it would be many years before there was any appreciable result. Californian oranges were imported consistently, and their standard of quality was high. But these were expensive—exchange, freight, duty, and, in the case of the South Island particularly, transport charges from Auckland or Wellington very nearly doubled charges. It was an illuminating fact that they' were nevertheless imported on a fairly big scale. It should be noted that shipments were landed only at Wellington or Auckland, and that southern markets must suffer a comparative disadvantage. “The third source of supply is Jamaica, importations from which have been on an increasing scale in the last two seasons,” the wholesaler said. “The season lasts only through the summer months, though, and it is during the winter that the demand for oranges reaches its peak. This fruit resembles to some extent that grown in the Cook Islands, although it is vastly improved in every respect, and, like the Islands product, it has a tendency to deteriorate very quickly. This fact, together with a fairly high price scale, does not enable the Jamaican oranges to relieve the situation more than temporarily. Cook Island oranges are available far a limited period throughout the winter, and big quantities are imported to the Dominion. Shipments are made only to the North Island, however, and southern consumershave to meet extra transport charges. Again, their non-keeping qualities are a big handicap, and matters are not improved by the extra handling involved in transhipment. Prices for this variety would be reasonable if the condition of the fruit were perfect; but this has never been the case, and it is the experience of Southland distributors, at any rate, that this commodity offers no margin of profit either to wholesaler or to retailer. Even the consumer does riot consider Island oranges really cheap.” Then there was Australia. The Commonwealth had huge orangegrowing areas, capable of filling all the Dominion’s requirements for the greater part of the year. Until 1933, importations were free and unrestricted. “There is no doubt that Australian oranges are the type which New Zealand consumers want,” this man concluded, “and in the past prices have been low enough to permit a high average consumption. A direct shipping service to both North and South Island ports ensures rapid transit and lowered distributing costs.”