"Controlled" Fruit

First Shipment Marred By Strange Incident

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, June 24.

WITH the departure of the Matua recently, the first shipment of “con trolled” fruit left the Cook Islands for N.Z. markets. So far word has not been received here as to prices realised.

Those who are unenthusiastic over the new scheme point out that the matter is of little interest, because growers’ main concern lies in collecting the 2/6 per case guaranteed by the Government.

And, it should be clearly recognised, there do exist those to whom “control” is most distinctly unpalatable.

An unfortunate incident marked the first shipment from Atiu, where ap proximately 1,300 cases of oranges were left behind owing to a misunderstanding which arose between the Union Co.’s officials and those working the boats.

Apparently the latter, who had been at work continuously from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., requested a “knock-off” to enable them to have kai. Although details of what actually occurred are not available, it appears that no serious attempt was made by anyone to persuade the men to resume work, or to accede to their seem ingly reasonable request. This is all the more strange in view of the. number of high official and commercial personages who were making the inter-island trip on the Matua. It is of course possible, but

unlikely, that they were all unaware of what was taking place.

Speculation was subsequently rife on “the beach” as to whether the Govern ment would pay the 2/6 guaranteed on all fruit, once accepted by its inspectors, irrespective of anything which might transpire later. Official advice has now been received that the half-crown guaran tee will, in this case, be paid on all fruit shipped. But actually the total amount is to be apportioned between all those who had fruit ready for shipment, whether those whose fruit was shipped Payment will therefore be at the rate of 1/6 per case.

An interesting legal point would be whether those whose fruit was shipped could not claim in full the 2/6 definitely guaranteed by the Government. But there are no lawyers in the Cook Islands, and the solution arrived at apparently is the fairest for all concerned.