CHERRIES AND APRICOTS FREIGHTED BY AIR

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 December 1947, Page 4

CHERRIES AND APRICOTS FREIGHTED BY AIR

OTAGO TO AUCKLAND FIRM SATISFIED WITH ITS VENTURE. (P.A.) Auckland, Dec. 29. Chartered by a firm of Auckland produce merchants, a Douglas Dakota freighter of the National Airways Corporation has made two flights from Taieri (Dunedin) airport with cherries and apricots for the Auckland market. One flight was made to meet the Christmas trade, and the consignment irom the second flight was marketed to-day for the New Year demand. Cherries have been the largest item on the manifests of the aircraft and about 600 cases are being brougnt on each flight. Most of the cherries in the North Island are grown in Hawke's Bay, where the season is now practically finished and the bulk of the Dominion’s supply is in the South Island. Central Otago, the source of those sent to Auckland in the chartered aircraft, is retarded as the best growing area. Over the holiday period the only channel for despatching fruit from the South Island was by air from Christchurch or Blenheim to Paraparaumu. This was considered too slow and a direct air link was arranged. The cherries were picked in Central Otago on Friday, brought to Auckland on Saturday, and sold in the market on Monday. They arrived in excellent conditicn, and they were of high quality. A representative of the chartering firm said the freight rate was very high, but that the company was satisfied with the result of its venture. There was, however, a plentiful supply of fruit and vegetables throughout New Zealand and difficulty was experienced in making back loading cargoes for the South Island. Two consignments sent south, both to Christchurch, consisted chiefly of strawberries, but also included beans, cucumbers, and plums. Several consignments of cherries were brought to Auckland from Blenheim earlier this month in an Oxford aircraft owned and piloted by Mr J. M. Gould. He arrived last Wednesday with fruit picked the previous day. He was killed that night in an aircraft accident at Paraparaumu.