Rejected

25% of Samoan Bananas Rejected

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Feb. 8.

AFTER being delayed for a few hours by strong headwinds off the Samoan Coast, the Maui Pomare arrived at Apia on February 7. Owing to unfavourable weather and high seas she was unable to lift a cargo of 50 tons of copra at Niue Island, but had to leave hurriedly with 20 tons on board, when the weather be came -worse.

Banana inspectors had a difficult task with this month’s shipment of bananas.

On numerous European and native plan tations the trees had been blown down in the gale of January 16, and though warned against the practice, growers, especially the natives, attempted to pack windfall bananas, which are unsuitable for ex port, together with sound fruit. As a result, out of over 7,000 cases offered, 1,800 cases were rejected by the inspec tors, which easily constitutes a record in rejections. Instead of the quota of 7600 cases only about 5500 cases were shipped.

Captain O. Anderson, a master mariner of Apia, recently departed from Samoa for Europe by the Swedish vessel Boren.