H—3oa

Shipping was at hand to transport larger supplies from the Cook Group, but in a normal season it will be necessary for the service now provided by the " Maui Pomare " to be augmented, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid a wastage of fruit at the shipping end. Jamaican oranges do not generally land here during the period under review, but quantities are expected from this source later this year and early next year. As in the past, sufficient stocks have at all times been on hand to meet the requirements of hospitals and other necessitous cases. Importations for the six months under review and the corresponding period last year were :

Grapefruit Small importations of this fruit were made, mainly during the period when local production was unable to satisfy the market. Larger supplies will be arriving [during the next six months. Cook Island production of grapefruit was reduced for the same reasons as oranges.

Pineapples During the period covered by this report, pineapples are not in season in the Pacific islands, but larger supplies than for some years are expected in the next half-year. Shipments from Australia have shown some improvement, as indicated in the figures shown below :

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Source of Supply. Six Months ended 30th September, 1945. Six Months ended 30th September, 1946. Oases. Percentage. Cases. Percentage. Australia Cook Islands 69,161 51,691 57-2 42-8 56,078 22,279 71-6 28-4 120,852 78,357

Source of Supply. Six Months ended 30th September, 1945. Six Months ended 30th September, 1946. Cases. Percentage. Cases. Percentage. Cook Islands Samoa Fiji 1,654 531 75-7 24-3 396 449 75 43-0 48-8 8-2 2,185 920

Source of Supply. Six Months ended 30th September, 1945. Six Months ended 30th September, 1946. Cases. Percentage. Cases. Percentage. Australia Tonga Fiji 2,440 7 99-7 0-3 ! 5,403 11 .. 99-8 0-2 2,447 5,414