ISLAND FRUIT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2411, 17 March 1915, Page 8

ISLAND FRUIT

HEAVY LOSS ON TAVIUNI'S SHIPMENT COMPLAINTS IN AUCKLAND - ! • (By Telegraph.—l'res* Association.) Auckland, March 16. So large a quantity of rotten and over-ripe bananas was landed l'rom the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Taviuni on the wharf that the loss on the consignment of 7000 cases will, it is estimated, amount to close upon : £2000.' There was general indignation •amongst consignees, when the condition of tho fruit was . ascertained., One of the principal importers stated that the bananas arrived; in such a bad state . that it'was impossible to sell any but a very few cases'on the wharf. Of the remainder; such cases: as were saleable at all had to be-, sent to the auction marts,'only a very.' small proportion being fit to consign to the south. It was. calculated' that had the bananas been in anything, like good condition tliey would • have fetched 7s. per case. As it'was, the average, price realised was, not moro than 2s; per case, some going at as low as 2d. ; Many small lots were utterly useless and would have to be thro,mi- away, the 'contents of the case being ijuite rotten, the ground beneath them}.in',,the shed and' the cases selves beiiig..soaked. As a result,' when' Is. 6d. per case was asked at,the ship's side for some of the fruit, buyers waxed sarcastic and would not purchase. 'Confirming the estimate of tho loss on the vessel's shipment of bananas another consignee/ said the average per case,' had 'the fruit been sound, .would easily have worked out at 7s. In : the south from 12s; to 14s. per case could have been obtained. It was.doubtful if the/'average price realised would reach 2s. per case,' so that the total loss ■ would come to £1750. Furthermore,- there would-be a loss of about Is. per oase on 250 of the 5000 cases of oranges brought by s the steamer. At 'first .-it"'was very-doubtful whether the consignees would pay the freight on the bananas or leave them on the Union Company's hands. All blamed the slowness of the Taviuni on the voyage for the destruction of so large a portion of the fruit. _ A meeting of consignees was held .in the forenoon and it was ultimately decided to take delivery, it being thought possible that they might Tecover their- freight and charges (roughly, 2s. per case). It was also decided that no more bananas' should be ordered from Rarotonga-if they had to be shipped by the Taviuni, and, furthermore, to advise,, consignors' not to send any by-,that:vessel. :• Consignees stated that tho'Jjiiion Company had repeatedly been, advised by them that'the Taviuni was an unsuitable vessel for the conveyance/ of_frii.it from tho Islands. , 'lie last/ shipment by her had arrived too ripe. / ' Union Company's Explanation,. In order to ascertain the attitude .of tho Union Company in the matter inquiries were made at the lociil office of .the company. It was stated that the Taviuni. was. capable of steaming much faster than she had done on this last voyage.. .Unfortunately, however, shemet with very bad weather.on the.outward passaige from three days after her doparture until her arrival at Rarotonga. There the weather was still so bad that it was impossible for the vessel to go to the anchorage, so she had to proceed to Itiatea. As regards the vessel's speed, the chief engineer reiwrted .that at present.',.it is: : ::very difficult to obtain good coal. This state of affairs had existed both in Newcastle and ill Westport since the commencement of the war.. It was the bad ■ steaming quality of her coal which, was the causo of the l'aviuni's protracted voyage just completed. Concerning comments made as to the 'l'aviuni's.u'nsuitability for the Island fruit trade, it" was explained that ■in consequence of the war the trade in the Eastern Pacific had so di 7 minisffed that it did not warrant the company in running .a larger steamer. As a matter of fact, the Taviuni 'was running at a loss every trip. There was every reason to believe, however,' that the improving'* prospects in the Eastern Pacific would warrant the company in putting on a larger vessel for the April-trip.,- ' Oil;this point.nothing definite could be : said, however, untu further advices from : the Islands came to hSnd. It was ascertained, further, ,that'the matter of the loss on the present shipment of bananas is being taken into consideration by the Union Company. A quantity of .the fruit, it was stated, was over-ripe -when it was packed, and had .been signed for as such./ There was also evidence of improper indiscriminate packing; ■