FIJIAN BANANAS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 366, 7 March 1932, Page 7

FIJIAN BANANAS.

South Island Market

Sought. SHIPMENT FROM SUVA. When the C. and D. liner Port Alma arrived at Lyttelton this morning from London, via Suva, she carried on her decks 2800 cases of Fijian bananas. The consignment was in the way of an experiment by- a group of Fijian growers and regular shippers of fruit who were dissatisfied with the present system, which is practically- controlled by the Auckland market. The object of the consignment was to test the possibilities of trading with the South Island direct.

Mr T. Barnes. Director of Agriculture at Fiji, said this morning that it

was a mere accident that he should happen to be a passenger by the Port Alma, with its experimental consignment. Naturally-, he was interested, and part of his duty while visiting New Zealand was to inquire fully- into the prospect of extending the Island fruit trade with South Island ports. He intended staying in Christchurch for two days, and would confer with interested parties. Arrangements have been made for Mr Barnes to take trips into the surrounding country before proceeding to Wellington on official business.

Mr Barnes said that some of the regular banana shippers were not satisfied with Auckland holding such strong control and were desirous of trading with the South Island direct. That was the reason for the experimental shipment. An arrangement with South Island people was desired. One of the most desirable factors was the avoidance of overlapping with shipments, and consequent glutting of the market. Recently growers had been losing money, as much as from 2s to 5s per case, on shipments. In 1929 Fiji exported 200,000 cases of bananas, but owing to devastation bv cyclones the 1930 output was ortlv 84.00 b. Last year it had gone up to 94,000 Since T'anuary. 1932, 43,000 cases had been exported.