SLOW FREIGHTING

Evening Star, Issue 20061, 29 December 1928, Page 17

SLOW FREIGHTING

TOMATOES SPOILED IN TRANSIT (Special so she ‘Stir.’] CHRISTCHURCH, December 28. “ it looks as if fruit is to be thrown off anywhere,” said Mr C. Pope, a local fruitgrower, to a reporter last night in reference to the manner in which fruit and tomatoes are carried on the south line. Mr Pope was just in receipt of a communication from his auctioneers in Dunedin, which informed him that, owing to a “hot box” on the truck in which a consignment of tomatoes was despatched on December 24. it did not reach Dunedin till December 27, and the result was that the tomatoes were sold at Is per lb less than the ruling price at the time they were sent away. He was also informed that a previous consignment had arrived late, with the result that a special sale had had to be held at an unfavourable hour, the prices gained being much below what they should have been. “The tomatoes were held up for nearly three days,” said Mr Pope', “ and when unpacked they weva overripe and altogether unsuitable. They should at least have been transhipped. There were plenty of expresses at that time. Fruit and tomatoes need good handling and quick freighting, and that is why wo fought so hard for" space ou an express. It seems that the_Railway Department looks on fruit as something that can be carried anyhow.” He added that the unseasonable rains had caused already serious losses to some fruitgrowers, splitting cherries and damaging the last of the strawberry crop.