winnowing Pineapples

[?]Fun,

[?] Profit In

winnowing Pineapples [?]r NZ Market

LL reports affirm that there is increasing antagonism of the Administration, at Mangaia, »k Islands. his is based largely on the idling of the island’s economy— it —and what the Mangaians, itly or wrongly, consider to be ninistration—or New Zealand /eminent—connivance at “ex itation” of the pineapple growers the sole New Zealand firm idling the marketing. ’egotiations reached a climax in form of a pineapple strike in tember. This followed a visit by Minister of Island Territories in y, when an assurance was given t the matter in question would investigated. he pineapple dispute centres on it is claimed to be a completely air price, fixed by Fruit Dis utors Ltd. with Government iroval, on the current season’s ?• i 1950-51, growers received a ss payment of 17/4 per lh bushel ?. From this the Administration ucted 3/6 for the case, 6d. for jking, 3d. for inspection, and 7d labour and lighterage in the ling operations at Mangaia— ring 12/6 net to the growers, dw, in 1955, when costs have in ised, the price was to remain un nged at 17/4 gross, but deduc ts now are as follows: case 5/10, iking Bd, inspection 6d, labour [ lighterage 8d and a new local of 3d., making 7/11 in all —and /ing the growers only 9/5 per a he Mangaia loading operations notoriously tricky. The reef is igerous at the best of times, and he weather comes up much fruit / be left behind. Such fruit, or it arriving in New Zealand in r condition, is a loss to the wer—unlike citrus and bananas which all loss is accepted by the /eminent. The growers are de ted 6/- per case for unmarket i fruit arriving in New Zealand, sumably to cover freight and idling charges there, ast April, the Mangaians asked 15/- net. No reply to this de id had been received when the lister arrived in July, and for i and other reasons he was Drded a chilly reception. The lister returned to Wellington and months went by, with the crop reaching the harvest. When tiing had been heard on the sub ■ by September, in response to

further requests, some residents broke the story to the New Zealand press. The response from New Zea land was immediate —a cold and unqualified “No” to the request for any change in price.

The Mangaians thereupon de clared a strike. No ship would be worked. No pineapples would be de livered.

Though it was obvious that it would mean a grievous financial loss, still the people were prepared to face it.

However, by October, when the grimness of the situation was apparent, some of the people were

prepared to listen to a new proposi tion from New Zealand. This was that Fruit Distributors Ltd. would market the pineapples on consign ment for open sale without any guarantee of price. Under this scheme the growers still might lose —or they might, if the fruit arrived in good condition, do considerably better than even the 15/- net. With this offer, however, came the in timation that the Matua would call at the island on her November Cooks trip, only if a guarantee of 10,000 cases were on hand for ship ment.

Debate on this was continuing

e in October but it seemed that h belts already tight on the md, the Matua opportunity would accepted. Much will depend on I results of that transaction.

'ruit Distributors Ltd., the Well ton organisation handling Cook aids fruit, is a company formed all the fruit auctioneers in New land. There is a New Zealand Fernment representative on the rd of management, and the Min r of Island Territories represents [ growers in the annual price otiations. s a marketing system, it is gener [ more satisfactory than the ner system of many individual ipers and importers, but the lister of Island Territories seems jly the best person to represent producers, even though the pie have no choice as regards ■seas markets.