C. I. Oranges

Trade to be Controlled by N.Z. Government

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Apr. 10.

ON March 26, before a representative meeting of those engaged in the fruit industry, the Resident Commissioner (Judge Ayson, C.M.G.) outlined the posi tion under the recently announced Gov ernment decision to take control of the trade, commencing this year with the orange crops in Rarotonga and Lower Group islands.

The Secretary of the C.I. Department advised that the method of disposal was that the fruit would be distributed to licensed brokers throughout the Domin ion on a population basis and sold by them as agents of the N.Z. Government on a fixed commission, the latter also fixing prices below which the fruit should not be sold.

Referring to the efforts made last month by certain Auckland merchants to purchase the entire season’s crop, the Resident Commissioner informed the meeting that contracts made with this object could, under the power invested in the Government, be declared void and unenforceable. The prices offered by these firms were 4/- (fruit only) in the Rarotonga sheds, 5/- in Aitutaki and Atiu, and 6/- in Mangaia.

These offers, Judge Ayson continued, had appeared so attractive that on March 17, after consultation with the parties concerned, he had despatched a radiogram to the Cook Is. Dept, advising that local producers were anxious not to lose such good prices.

On the 19th a further radiogram was sent stating that the Island Council also strongly favoured acceptance under Government contract —of the Auckland merchants’ offer, complete control of the fruit to be taken at a later date.

In reply, radio advice from the Dept, intimated that the Minister was already cognizant of the offers referred to, and that “without exception the entire orange crop would be controlled,” arrangements for its distribution having been concluded and the co-operation of leading brokers secured.

In conclusion. Judge Ayson observed that it was only fair to assume that such an offer as the above, if genuine, would have claimed the Minister’s serious at tention and that for him to have decided against it clearly pointed to some detri mental aspect which was not perhaps discernable locally. Both the Prime Minister (who is also Minister for the Cook Islands) and Mr. S. J. Smith, (Sec retary of the C.I. Dept.) had only one objective and that was the betterment of the Group. No one could doubt that they, together with the whole Labour Government, were definitely out to assist the primary producer.

Mr. Dave Brown, on behalf of the Ex porters’ Association expressed his appre

ciation of Judge Ayson’s efforts to secure fair and favourable conditions for all narties. The motion was seconded by Captain J. D. Campbell. . In a short reply, stating that his own part in these matters was only in the course of his duty, Judge Ayson said that there was one thing which he would like to clear up. During the past year certain attacks, a lot of them from be hind hedges, had been made upon him in connection with the fruit trade. Sev eral had got into print.

Referring specifically to an extract from a letter which had appeared in the February issue of the P.1.M. , alleging that “the powers that be are moving heaven and earth to get a certain official into the position of manager of the fruit business instead of another man who is regarded as the obvious person for the

job,” he would like to say that no such idea had ever entered his head and that he would now ask the people of Raro tonga to regard any suggestion to that effect as a deliberate falsehood.

No Early Shipment By “Matua”

Local growers have been preturbed by their inability to ship their early oranges by this month’s Matua owing to

the number of cases available (approxi mately 500) being insufficient to justify the Union Co. setting apart a special hold for the consignment. Oranges and ban anas, it appears, require to be kept at different temperatures.

Requests to the Union Co. last week to divert the Gape York, bound from Pa peete to Auckland, were also unavailing.

Although only a few growers are affected these are particularly disappointed since the first oranges shipped in the season almost invariably command top prices.

As Government control of the fruit in dustry does not commence officially until the May shipment, local traders were also interested in what would have been their last speculative venture in the much discussed, often disparaged, but always sought-after orange.