MORE ORANGES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 97, 11 May 1937, Page 9

MORE ORANGES

\ -Press Assaclation.!

South Australian Fruit to be Procured ARRIVING ON MONDAY

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON", Last Night. "With regard to the availabilfty of citrus fruit in the Dominion, the Government has been considering the best means to adopt in order to ensure an adequate supply of oranges may be available, to the community," said the Acting-Minister of Customs, Hon. M. Fagan, in a statement iesued to-night. "Whatevsr quantity of oranges is required to meet the necessities of the people "will be imported into the Dominion. In .the meantime, aa a commencement, it has been decided after full investigation to bring in 130,000 export eases (approximately 870,000 bushels) of South Australian oranges during the period May to November next. ' 'This increased quantity is in eonformity with .the recommendations of the Fruit Marketing Committee. It may be mentioned that the mipimuTrt quantities e^tpected to arrive from the Cook Islands — namely, 90,000 cases (135,000 bushels) and from South Australia during the ensuing six months will be equivalent to the average aqnual importations into the Dominion from all sources during the past eight years. 'The quantity for the six months is also , equivalent to almost 80 per cent. of the ' total importations from all sources during the twelve months ended December last. "The following tabls shows the. ^quantities imported into Nevr Zealand during the years shown: —

"If it, is found, either that this largely increased quantity is inadequate,. or that ths price to ths consumer is unreason&ble, steps will be taken stili fnrther to increase the supply and the que&tion of price will also receive the attention ef the Government. A large quantity of Cook Island oranges is due in the Dominion on May 25. "It was anticipated the Mariposa, ] due to arrive in Auckland from the. Dnited States on May 14, would bring between 3000 and 4000 cases of oranges, but advice has noy been received that the shipment will consist of 6250 cases. This shipment will help very materially in easing the immediate ■itu&tion." With respeet to statements appearing in the Press tejgarding'oranges supplies from Australia, the Miniater stated that official advice was received on April 23 from the Commonwealth Government, throngh the Australian Trade Commissioner, that no oranges were available for export on the Australian market. The Commissioner stated the orange season in Australia did not really commence until June, and oranges would uot in any case be available for export until the iniddle of May. "It will, of ponrse, be obvious that. the New Zealand Government eannot eontrol the availability of oranges in the cou'ntries which supply our Tequirements," said Mr Fagan. ''With respeet to. a statement made that oue Christchurch flrm and another in Auckland hold & monopoly ' of the importation and distribution of oranges from Jamaica, the position is, so far as the New Zealand Government is concerned, that it is open to any importers in the Dominion to impoit fruit from that source without restriction as to quantity, The Government in no way interferes between importers in New Zealand and exporters in Jamaica. "With xespect to statements made to the effect that certain firms have a monopoly of the shippihg space, thus onabling them 46 eontrol supplies of Jamaican oranges in that way, the Government has no eontrol . in this matter but 3s willing. to make repre•sentations to the shipping companies ;with a view to assisting any legitimate importer. "It is expected the £rst shipment of South Australian fruit will be available -on Monday next, and these oranges wiJ I arrive .in 'the South Island, Bluff being the firflt port of discharge. Importa tions of South Australian oranges for , both the Sonth and North Islands will •thereafter come to hand regularly until the close of the season. "In dealing with this matter, full regard has been paid to the public interest and the Government will see to it that the Dominion 's requirements of oranges will be satisfactorily catered for. It has been arranged that the Internal Marketing Department will give particular consideration to the question of supplies for country districts."

Year, Cases. Bushels. 1929 ... 242,197 363,295 1930 .. 278,846 418,269 -1931 292,294 438,441 1932 .. 268,130 402,195 . 1933 .. 200,877 301,315 1934 281,907 . . 422,860 1935 .. .. 270,221 405,331 1936 .. .. 325,535 488,302 !