ISLAND ORANGES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1924, Page 2

ISLAND ORANGES.

D 1•; 1 a T WKLLIYGTOY sF.BVICK.

WKI.LiYGTOY, May 28

Wellington pooolo luivo boon invited in buy oranges in rase lots at almost bargain priors, a sion of some iiiiiota* ti-.:,i in the business connected with tropical fruits. Ihe reason is. that the Fnion Company’s Steamer Ygakuta is due at Wellington on Thursday with a cargo, mainly of oranges, numbering from 2(1.(101) to '27,000 cases for distributing throughout the Dominion.

The shipment is important for the reason that it inaugurates a new service between Wellington and the Cook group, and it should have the effect of increasing the local supply of citrus fruits and so lowering prices here and in the South Island.

The high cost of oranges and lemons in recent years lias made them luxuries instead of articles of daily food. Best tear and for sonic years past the fruit exports of the Cook Islands have gone direct to Auckland.

The object of the lieu service is in improve and cheapen the distribution i f |i fruit throughout Yew Zealand as a whole. Fruit under the new conditions will In* distributed asquicklv and econoinii ally from Wellington to the South Island centres as it will be to Auckland. It will go into consumption quicker t ban when, as formerly. it bad to conic from Auckland by sea or rail to Wellington, onward--,i i bi'istclinrcli. Dunedin and other ports. Besides it will effect a saving of transhipping freight and .other charges.

Tlic Y’gakuta will land all the Wellington and southern fruit here and earrv on its quota to Auckland. Yext trip from the islands will be to Auckla.iid direct, and the July boat will come on to Wellington direct, thus giving a trip to Wellington every two months. Auckland will always be the nort of denarture.

In the opinion of those in the trade -ales of oranges, lemons and grapefruit. have undoubtedly been curtailed by tbo high prices charged for them, and the duty on Californian oranges of Id per nound has had the effect of a restriction of the market, also a smaller turnover for the retailer who could 5,.1l cheaper if lie sold more small parcels. Oranges and lentous coming into market are keenly competed for. with the result that the retailer has to charge according to what ho lias to pay. and to charge s 0 high as to lie close to (ho point beyond whirl) the ponetimer will not go.