ORANGE SHIPMENT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 186, 3 May 1940, Page 10

ORANGE SHIPMENT

Some Of Fruit Bad

(By Telegraph— Press Association.) AUCKLAND. May 2.

Complaints regarding the high proportion of bad fruit among the shipment of Cook Island oranges which arrived at Auckland on Wednesday were made today' by* several city retailers. They claimed that approximately a third of each ease purchased was bad. some cases of 200 count containing its many as 70 rotten fruit. Private putchasers also expressed indignation that the fruit had not been repacked before being offered for sale. In an explanation an otlieial of the Internal Marketing Division stated that the shipment had been slightly kite in arriving and the demand for oranges had been acute. Tlie final 5000 cases loaded on the ship had been brought aboard in heavy rain and packed in the open hold: consequently these fruit were sodden throughout the voyage. It had been the intention of the division to repack the fruit on arrival before sale, but, as the position was acute, these 5000 eases had been placed immediately upon the ■ market. Purchasers would not lose by the transaction, however, as it. had been arranged to pay compensation for all bad irtlit. 'The remainder of the shipment was of good quality and perfectly dry.