CARRIAGE OF FRUIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1924, Page 4

CARRIAGE OF FRUIT.

KE] RIGKRATORS’ DISCUSSION'. LONDON'. June 17. Fifty papers dealing with all phases of rolligeratioii were rend by experts from leading nations at meetings of the various sections of the Refrigeration Congress. In a paper prepared by M. William, a French refrigeration engineer, of Melbourne, and read beofre the Refrigerated Transport section, it was stated that in Australia considerable opposition had been expressed against the pro-cooling of fruit, much of which was still to he overcome before a satisfactory export trade could he achieved. The antagonism came chiefly from growers and agents who, because of the trilling expense, preserved a prejudice against a system which was calculated to ensure uniformity of quality and good market prices. Although a Vietoiian Royal Commission in If)].s reported .favourably on pre-eooling, the short-sighted views of the opponents of that system prevailed. It was necessary to convince them that their attitude was against their own interests. Pre-cooling was the only eiTe live preventive against fruit shipments being destroyed owing to ripeness deteriorating into rottenness. Proper pre-eooling would enormously enhance the export of citrus fruits, which were needed i:i I tain and Europe. Kxporionec had proved that the precluding of tipples was not ;i waste of time or money. The system should he obligatory. Tf the temperature of the fruit were not quickly and permanently brought to a certain degree, the chance of successful transportation was small. The Victorian Institute of Refrigeration, in 1022. had urged the Government to establish a refrigerating research station. It was urged that the industry was groping along for want of scientific data. Owing to political crises and changes of Government, the realisation of refrigerators’ hopes had made slow progress. Air Hawkiii, of the United States Department of Agriculture, saiil siiut experiments during the last three years had pro veil that Californian grapes arriving in New York were little different from those pre-cnnled. It had been payable to pre-cool Californian cherries and strawberries, which, as n result, lasted 21 hours longer. The meeting passed a resolution highly recommending pre-cooling, but expressing the opinion that it should not be made compulsory.