DUMPED AT SEA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21556, 19 January 1940, Page 5

DUMPED AT SEA

Bananas From Samoa Refrigerating Failure By relesraph pres* Association AUCKLAND. January 18. Owing to the failure of the refrigerating plant in a steamer which arrived unexpectedly at Auckland from the Pacific Islands, 7000 cases of bananas loaded at Samoa, most of which were consigned to the South Island, were dumped at sea. Only 2000 cases of a capacity shipment were saved. These were from Niue and were placed in the rear hold, where forced draught was used. Although many of the Niue bananas were ripe, some were auctioned to-day. Some of the others were in a good enough condition to send to Wellington, but it is considered that the Wellington and South Island markets will be bare until another steamer arrives next week. The Samoan fruit was dumped soon after leaving that island. As it was paid for by the Primary Products Marketing Department f.0.b., the loss will be the Government’s. They would have brought about £1 per case. Bananas are scarce in New Zealand, and this shipment was eagerly awaited, although the shortage will not be so severely felt because there is a good supply of New Zealand-grown fruit. SHORTAGE IN DUNEDIN By Telegraph —Press Association DUNEDIN. January 18. Bananas have been in short supply in Dunedin since before Christmas, when shipments were interfered with because the transport was laid up for repairs. The less of the latest shipment aggravates the position, particularly in the south, as the steamer's port, of call was Lyttelton. A small shipment is due in the north next week, but it is not expected that much if any of this will reach the local market.