H—3oa
Normally this country looks to Jamaica to augment orange supplies during the. gap between the Australian and Cook Island seasons, approximately December to March. However, for the past few years, Jamaican fruit, due to lack of shipping space and the requirements of the British Ministry of Food, has not been procurable except for one shipment in December, 1944. The'forward position in regard to Jamaica is uncertain, but every effort is being made to resume normal trading relations at the earliest opportunity. Oranges were purchased in past years from the United States of America when necessary, but here again the lack of suitable shipping opportunities cut off supplies from this source. Fiji and Pitcairn can supply New Zealand only spasmodically, but supplies are gladly accepted when available. # Bananas As disclosed in the figures quoted below, 118,591 cases (10,673,190 lb.) of bananas were imported this year, against 193,692 cases (17,432,280 lb.) last year and 410,160 cases (36,914,400 lb.) in 1939.
Banana importations during recent years have shown a marked decline, but in late months a considerable improvement has been effected. This improvement is expected to continue, and during the coming year the vessels now catering for the island fruit trade will be more than fully taxed in coping with the increased production. This will mean the reimposition of quotas upon the quantities to be accepted from the various islands. In the period of short supplies when each island was shipping every available banana there was also a decline in quality, but now that production has improved, inspection at the points of shipment has been made more rigorous, resulting in present shipments arriving in much better condition.
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Year ended 31st March, 1939. ■ 1940. 1941. 1942, Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Fiji Tonga Samoa Mue Harotonga 134,092 14,476 211,071 13,030 37,491 32-69 3-53 51-46 3-18 9-14 59,580 30,501 198,295 13,703 35,206 17-67 9-04 58-79 4-06 10-44 93,116 29,300 228,269 11,278 20,114 24-38 7-67 59-74 2-95 5-26 50,125 71,626 135,796 7,427 18-92 27-03 51-25 2-8 410,160 337,285 • • 382,07-7 264,974 Year ended 31st March, 1943. 1944. 1945. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Cases. Per Cent. Fiji Tonga Samoa JSfine Rarotonga.. 85,304 48,989 88,052 11,699 10,806 34-85 20-00 35-96 4-78 4-41 76,380 55,689 53,436 7,953 234 39-43 28-75 27-59 4-11 0-12 32,965 31,332 48,242 3,086 2,966 27-80 26-42 40-68 2-60 2-50 244,850 193,692 118,591