Big Shipment to New

Cook Is. Fruit

Big Shipment to New Zealand

From Our Own Correspondent

R Rarotonga, July 6.

AROTONGA orange shipments, which concluded with approximately 1 000 cases in early July, have been satis factory this year, although the crop was not up to normal.

About 17,400 cases of native wild oranges and 500 cases of imported varie ties have left the island during the past three months, at an average return to the grower of 4/- and 4/9 per case respectively. It is also generally hoped that a bonus will be declared by the New Zealand Internal Marketing Depart ment, which has control of all oranges imported into the Dominion.

The fruit mostly landed with a record low percentage of loss, due primarily to more advanced methods of handling locally, such as gassing with ethylene de-buttoning and proper fumigation Shipments of oranges from the other islands in the Lower Cook Group although affected by high winds prevail ing recently, are expected to fill the steamer for about another three months, after which the question of a steamer for the group seems problematical Mr M. B. Baker (Director of Agriculture)’ spent three weeks on Mauke Island, where a heavy crop is expected, supervis ing the new gassing sheds and seeing to arrangements for shipment.

Growers in Rarotonga have expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that, although the Government has repeatedly asked for banana-planting to be increased, no bananas have been exported on the orange steamer. This is true — but apparently unavoidable with the present hard-felt shortage of oranges in New Zealand, necessitating all available space being given to citrus fruits.

It is pointed out that the Administra tion has had the greatest difficulty in arranging for a steamer at all in these difficult times.