H—3OA

Granges This year the equivalent of 183,270 export cases was received from all sources of supply, as compared with 189,317 cases imported last year and 460,000 cases distributed in 1939. After making provision for civilian and Armed Services, hospital patients, and other essential needs such as those of invalids and Plunket Societies, the remainder of the fruit was proportionately distributed to consumers throughout the Dominion. Importations into New Zealand from 1939 up to the present year are as follows :

Orange crops in the Commonwealth, of Australia were below normal. At tlie same time, the Australian Government was committed to meeting the requirements of the Armed Forces for citrus juices, using 25 per cent, of the orange crop for this purpose. Recognizing New Zealand's need of oranges, the Australian authorities approved the export of 200,000 bushel cases for the year. Similar conditions and quantities are expected next year. Although the quantities of oranges exported by the Cook Islands have been reduced by hurricane conditions, &c., the general improvement in quality has been maintained and losses on arrival disclosed a marked decrease on the results of inspections of a few years ago. According to present forecasts, shipments from the Cook Islands next season will exceed this year's figures.

8

Year ended 31st March, 1939. ' 1940. 1941. 1942. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Australia Cook Islands Jamaica .. U.S.A. .. Fiji Pitcairn .. 295,780 96,600 57,500 10,120 64-3 21-0 12-5 2-2 216,300 54,250 79,450 61-8 15-5 22-7 243,215 127,028 11,257 8,035 62-4 32-6 2-9 2-i 214,713 119,213 160 111 64-2 35-7 }o.l 460,000 350,000 389,535 334,197 Year ended 31st March, 1943. 1944. 1945. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Australia .. Cook Islands Jamaica .. U.S.A. Fiji Pitcairn 121,342 49,680 70-95 29-05 145,516 43,801 76-86 23-14 129,786 42,776 10,708 I 70-82 23-34 5-84 171,022 189,317 183,270