ISLAND FRUIT TRADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 126, 29 May 1936, Page 11

ISLAND FRUIT TRADE

j COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY I EVIDENCE BY RETAILERS SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES. II I [ Per Press Association 1 WELLINGTON, May 28. Evidence was heard by the .Industries and Commerce Committee of the: House of Representatives (Mr. W. J. - Jordan presiding), re the island fruit t trade. :1 Mr, A. G. Osborne, representing the >, Auckland fruit retailers, said that res tailers would have more confidence in i- prices fixed by the Government than by ii those now doiug it. lie gave figures, y dates, and shipments to prove that |< every auctioneer had instructions as to y the minimum price for the day. The unsatisfactory condition of island fruit s on arrival was. he said, one of the root t difficulties, and he contrasted the conn dition of island oranges with oranges f of the same variety from Jamaica, comr ing three times as far and being landed in perfect condition. If island fruit was grown and marketed in as good ■i condition, he said, it could supply all n the New Zealand requirements. Evidence was also given by Mr. H. 1 A. Newall, of Dunedin and Mr. Charles v Capes, of Christchurch. Mr. R. Menzies, Wellington, declared that the time was coming when retail- • ers would refuse to handle Cook Islands fruit at all, unless it was repacked in New Zealand and graded for sale. He gave instances,.- where as much as a third of the fruit was thrown away on the first picking over and the deterioration of even the picked over fruit was so rapid that fruit placed on shelves in the morning had to be thrown out at night, Mr. J. Stanton, representing the Auckland Fruit Importers’ Federation, said that there w r as no trust or monos poly and no high profits wore made s There should ho said, be a more rigid e inspection of fruit before shipment, e The number of packing sheds should be -. reduced, and each shed should he in d charge of a competent citrus inspector. : No Fruit Control Board or any other s system could improve the position until e better methods of growing and inspec i- ing were initiated.