CARRIAGE OF FRUIT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 8

CARRIAGE OF FRUIT

LOW TEMPERATURE TESTS. INSTALLATION FOR DOMINION CARGO. [ Special “Chronicle” Service. ] WELLINGTON, April 19. A big step towards betterment of the condition in which New Zealand fruit lands upon the London market has been taken by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. A number of thermographs have been sent to the Dominion from the Cambridge jow temperature research station and arrangements have been made through the Cambridge authorities whereby these thermographs are to be installed in specified vessels en route from New Zealand to the Old Coun-

The thermograph, acting through the expansion of alcohol at, varying temperatures, makes a complete record of temperature at any given time on a rotating drum and those sent to New Zealand are to be installed in the refrigerated space in which New Zealand fruit is loaded for the London market. 'Thus, the arrangements, which are shortly to be put into effect, constitute the first attempt to institute a series of tests, both of refrigerated space and of the manner in which Dominion fruit carries to the Old Coun-

Up to the present it has been difficult to obtain a continued record of fruit from the orchard to the market and arrangements have been made whereby trees in certain orchards will be selected, their fruit will be tested, weighed and measured and packed in marked cases which will then be stowed in particular portions of the steamers’ holds. Wrapped in a special paper, this fruit will be easy to recognise and will arrive in London with a complete record of its history. In England the fruit, together with the thermograph charts, will be sent to the Cambridge low temperature research station for examination. At the same time, duplicates of thc fruit (as far as it is possible to obtain duplicate samples of fruit) will be kept in New Zealand), so that when the Cambridge investigators’ report reaches the Dominion the conditions will be able to bo checked up. At present the thermographs are being tested prior to being despatched to record the temperature which rules about cases of Cox’s Orange Pippins. The shipowners have consented to cooperate with the research authorities only on condition that nene of the information obtained by use of the thermographs shall be used against them in any lawsuits which may possibly bp brought against them in future. However. the companies have made it clear that they are anxious to improve the condition of refrigerated space, and it is obviously in their interest to do so.