SPOILED FRUIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 608, 9 March 1929, Page 1

SPOILED FRUIT

Special Government Commission Holds Inquiry on Maui Pomare

TROUBLE WITH

Does the system of banana transportation on the Maui Pomare, trading between Xew Zealand and the Islands, re Quire immediate and radical alteration? Fruit importers and Government officials from Wellington alike are asking that question to-day Of U. 144 cases of bananas on the Maui Pomare which arrived in Auckland this morning, from 4.000 to ft.oon cases are said to be in an unsatisfactory condition. To-day a special and urgent official inquiry is being held on board the Maui Homsre and will be completed before the vessel departs for the South this evening. The members of the Ship Technical Advisory Committee arrived from Wellington by the Limited this morning and were present when the Maui Pomare arrived. They proceeded on board immediately and met Captain W. McDonald, after which they sat as a special commission. Considerable secrecy is being observed, and there was reluctance even to disclose the names of the officials from Wellington who are taking part. The party includes engineers of the Public Works Department and the Dairy Produce Board, while Mr. C. A. Berendsen, of the Department of Internal Affairs, is present because of his knowledge of conditions at the Samoa end.

SAMOAN FRUIT AFFECTED “Our arrival in Auckland this

morning was the result of having been diverted because of the difficulty of holding portion of the Samoan fruit amounting to between 4,000 and 5,000 cases,” an officer of the Maui Pomare told a SUN man this morning. “The remainder of the cargo is in good condition and will be taken South this evening.”

While lie was speaking, unloading was proceeding rapidly and representatives of Auckland firms stood on the wharf, examining- the cases as they came ashore.

‘ The Technical Advisory Committee arrived this morning to go into the whole problem,” the officer continued. There is no question whatever as to the suitability of the machinery, but there would seem to be some trouble with the cargoes supplied for shipment.” He admitted, however, that the officers in charge had, during the trip from the Islands, a bad time with the refrigerating machinery. A ball-race broke and the temperature became exceedingly high. “A NEW VENTURE” “It must be remembered that this is a new venture—new to everyone. Certain facts have to be learned and certain adjustments made. “The Union Company. with its splendidly-equipped Levuka carrying fruit from Suva to Sydney, had, on two occasions, complete disasters with the cargoes. On one occasion 50,000 cases had to be dumped outside Sydney Heads.”

Though the Maui Pomare has been in the Island banana trade for not quite a year, this is the second occasion on which there has been trouble with her cargo. A few months ago practically the whole of a consignment was ruined because of trouble with the refrigerating machinery.

AUCKLAND OBJECTIONS

“NIUE BANANAS SHOULD BE LANDED” NORTH BEGAN THE TRADE Dissatisfaction that Niue Island bananas, which came mostly in good condition by the Maui Pomare, should be carried on to Southern markets when a demand awaits the fruit in Auckland is being expressed by members of the Auckland Fruit Importers’ Association.

j This morning, an official of th I association commented strongly on th

LATEST CARGO

position, from ilu* poim of view oC the Auckland importers*. "li is absolutely absurd, he said. for the Government to lake these Xiue bananas South when an eagr market i> ready for bananas in Auckland. Thor** are comparatively few bananas offering on the Auckland markets at the present time. The Government seems to be landing all The rubbish ii« Auckland and taking the sound fruit South. In Auckland at present, sound, green bananas would sell at 2i!s a case. * Again, the position is increasingly unfair to Auckland when it is realised that it was Auckland merchants who inaugurated and developed, the Niue Island banana trade. And now we find the fruit being diverted from Aucklar.il to the South. There is a groat risk that the Xiue fruit, at present sound, will deteriorate on the journey South when it could be landed immediately in good order. “Talking plainly, the South Island is being pampered at the expense of Auckland enterprise. “Recently, the commission reported from Samoa that the principle of the Government in guaranteeing a purchase price to the growers was wrong, and said that it should cease. This i?= the second shipment on the Maui Pomare that has been affected. Obviously, something is seriously wrong with the machinery. The commission reported that the boat had not earned its interest and was not likely to do so. Since the Government has taken over distribution the shippers are not allowed to consign to whatever place they wish. “GLARING INTERFERENCE” "It is a glaring instance of interfere ence with private enterprise.” he concluded. “Bananas which rightly belong to Auckland are going South at a heavy expense to the country.” The association official said that another fact arousing objection was the heavy loss made by the Maui Pomare. The guarantees to Samoan growei s was also unwanted. Wellington and the South Island were subsidised and it. was stated by Southern merchants that Auckland had the benefit of services with Fiji and the Cook Islands. The official pointed out that Wellington, would land a big shipment of fruit from the mail steamer Tahiti next. Tuesday„ A meeting of the Auckland Importers’ Association will take place as snort as possible and the question of unfairness to Northern merchants will be investigated fully.

Last Look Round —

| Drown Through Capsize At an inquest to-day into the death j of a Maori youth. Tame Thompson, a. verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned in the Wairoa River yesterday through his canoe capsizing. $ * * Fireman Knocked Down William Belsliaw. a fireman on the Canadian Winner, was knocked down by a bus at the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets, about 8 o'clock last evening. His right ankle was broken. He was taken to hospital by the St. John Ambulance. * * * Schoolmaster Found Dead The body of Mr. C. H. Olson* assistant master at Carterton District; Higii School, was found by a cleaner at the school this morning. An inquest is to bo held. Deceased was a/ married man but had no family.—P..V. Minister Flys in Moth The Minister of Defence, the Hon. T. M. Wilford. to-day inspected the Marlborough Aero Club’s landingground and airdrome, and took his. lirst flight in the Moth airplane presented to the Dominion by Sir Charles Wakefield. The formal presentation of the gift plane to the Marlborough. Aero Club will be made this afternoon. Hanging From Rafter James McCall, a married man aged 45, was found dead yesterday evening hanging from a rafter at his residence at Hastings. McCall, who was fruiterer, returned from a holiday in Wellington a week ago. leaving hia wife in the city. He served in destroyers during the war and was severely injured.—P.A. • * • Mother’s Devotion At an inquest on the death of th«j victim of the railway fatality at Wall roa on February 27, the verdict wa* that deceased. Dorothy Margaret Munro, was accidentally killed through being knocked over by a rake ot) trucks while endeavouring to save her* child from being run over. The jury added a rider that the attention of th** Public Works Department be drawn t*\ the necessity for better protection the young children of employees living alongside the railway line. —P.A. ,