AUCKLAND GETS CHERRIES BY AIR FROM OTAGO

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1947, Page 3

AUCKLAND GETS CHERRIES BY AIR FROM OTAGO

AUCKLAND. De\ 2). Cluirtcred by a linn of Auckland , produce mercliants, a Douglas Dakot-'i freighter of the Nalional Ainvays Corporation has made two flight.s from Taieri (Dunedin) airport with cherries and apricots for the Auckland markeL One fiight was made to ineet the Christmas trade and the consigninent from the second fliglit was niarketed to- 1 day for the new year deniand. Cherries have been the largest item ">n the manifests of the aircraft, abo'it 600 cases being bronght on each flight . Most of the cherries in tlu; North Lsland are grown in Hawke's Hav where the I season is now practically finished and i the lmlk of the Donnnion's suppJv is J in the South lsland. Central Otago, the • source of those sent to Auckland in the chartered aircraft, is regarded as the bcst growiug area. Over the holiday jutriod the only ehannel for desuatc.hing fruit from the iSouth Islancl was by air from. Christchurch or Blenheim to Paraparaumu. This was considered too slow and a direet air link was arranged. The i cherries were picked in Central Otago on Friday, bronght to Auckland 0:1 i Saturday and sold in the market on Monday. The.v arrived in excellent condition and they were of high quality. A representative of the chartering iirm said the freight rate was very high but that the company was satislied with the result of its venture. There was, however, a plentiful supply of fruit aua vegetables throughout New Zealand and difficulty was experienced in making back loading cargoes for -the South Tsland. Two consignments sent south, both to Christchurch, consisted chiefly of strawberries but also inc.huled beans, cueumbers and plums. Several consigniucnts of cherries were bronght to Auckland froui Blenheim earlier this month in an Oxford aircraft owned and piJoted by Mr. J. M. Gould. He arrived last Wednesday with fruit picked the previous day. TTe was killed that night in an aircraft accident at Paraparaumu.