ISLAND BANANAS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 12

ISLAND BANANAS

MAUI POMARE'S CARGO

SOME JETTISONED

The Government motor ship Maui Pomare arrived in Wellington this morning from Apia and Niue; one day ahead of schedule.

Instead of first calling at Lyttelton, the ship was diverted to Wellington. Some difficulty was experienced in controlling the temperature of the fruit. Entries in the log prove that the Samoan portion of the banana cargo was shipped in much hotter conditions tha nusual, the - shade temperature at Apia on the day of loading being 90 degrees. Some of tbfe fruit tendered for shipment, although* green in apparance, was quite soft, which would suggest that it had been submitted to heating for a considerable period prior to shipment. It is well known that fruit subjected to such' conditions gives off an abnormal amount, of heat' in storage.

High seas and high atmospheric temperatures followed the vessel to Niue. At Niue the hatches were agair opened to admit a further shipment of Niue fruit. This fortunately was in first-class condition for shipment. After leaving Niue, although the refrigerating machines were running perfectly, difficulty was experienced in bringing down temperatures of the Samoan portion of the cargo. To avoid* the loss of the whole cargo, it became necessary to abandon the attempt to cool one hold, and the fruit in this portion was jettisoned. The whole of the Niue shipment arrived in perfect green condition.

A preliminary departmental inquiry was held on board after the vessel's arrival ia port, but no statement is available for \publication. Since the vessel was reconditioned some eighteen months ago the propelling and the refrigerating machinery have functioned perfectly. The vessel has made regular monthly trips, with calls at Apia, Niue, Dunedin, Lyttelton/Wellington, ana Auckland. Since the inauguration of the service the vessel has carried some 250,000 cases of bananas, and only a very small proportion of these has arrived in other than, perfect condition.

The majority of the cargo this trip is being taken on to Lyttelon.