ROTTEN FRUIT SHIPMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1924, Page 4

ROTTEN FRUIT SHIPMENT

. A ccn.seiTn.tivc estimate of the waste fruit landed on Saturday in Wellington from the Island steamer Xgakuta is 50 per cent from Mangnia, -10 per ernt from Ilaratonga, and 00 per cent from Aitutaki (says the '‘New Zealand Times”). The huge shipment of something; like 00,000 cases of fruit on the vessel has keen seriously affected on the trip across, and hundreds ot cases wore unloaded after arrival to lie repacked, and in some eases sent to (lie destructor, being loaded on t J carts hv shovels.

The Jervoi.s Quay wharf i.-, not often the soene of .such novel activity as was the case throughout Friday night and Saturday morning. 'Hie oranges appear to have suffered most, many hummus being landed yellow, wheieas they .should 'he green. All through Friday night until 15 a.m. on Saturday, gangs were employed re, a: king the fruit, and again all day Satuipdav, tin 1 work continued until Lhiee o’clock when ilia vessel left for Auckland.

During Put unlay morning the ve.s-'t 1 was risited by Am kiand and other irembers of Parliament, and of the Chamber v'i Cummer; e. The existing state of affairs in regard to tile i Midition <n tile fruit cn arrival here, and the manner of its

shipment ea'.s to I. ■ causing considerahle (‘i.seenVbt amongst New Zealand merchants, and Auckland as v.ell as Wellington trades who were viewing the cargo, expressed great dir cri.sfaotbin at the condition of the fruit in gene;al and the wijy it is being handled.

Tiie general i audition of the fruit came in for a good deal of discussion on tin* .scene of activities between these meadeis present and the Wellington ai d Amkhind merchant:;.

The Xgakuta. said one Wellington merchant was not a suitable vessel in which to carry fruit. Jn a letter received from Ills agent al Ifaruuniga the Island re, ru-entati.c declared that it appeared the Xgakuta was not suitaide for the trade. Carrying of fruit demanded a well-ventilated hold, whereas in the Xgakuta the fruit be-

came covered in “poison gases.” "lie native; also definitely tie dared that they would not ship on the Xgakuta if the oranges and liuuuna.s were not bought on arrival here.

As an alternative of the mail boats ci u!d lie made 11-e of. The next shipment hv a mail vessel would arrive next Monday. It was surprising to

•sc • the different e in tlu* iargues of the present vessels and the mail boats.