MAUI POMARE’S BANANAS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1929, Page 5

MAUI POMARE’S BANANAS

LARGE QUANTITY AFFECTED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. When the cargo of bananas brought' to Lyttelton by the Maui Pomare, the Government motor-ship, was opened up yesterday, it was found that the earlier reports as to their being . in excellent condition were rather optimistic. As a matter of fact the bananas wero in only fair order, and quite a large quantity were not fit for human consumption. A total of approximately 770 cases was delivered to each of the four fruit auctioneering firms in the City yesterday, and whereas the Niue bananas opened, up in fair condition, those from Samba were in indifferent order. Some of the latter did not .bring more than IsCto Is 6d per case, while the average price at auction was 9s to 12s. The bananas were placed in three different /grades in the stores—good, medium, and badly, affected—and even in the highest grade some of the cases contained a few rotten ones. About 80 eases in lone consignment had to be placed in the lowest grade. * Most of the bananas were vers- green and larger than the average. ‘J The Maui Pomare has now Keen running to the Dominion from the islands for about a year and has made eight or nine trips to Lyttelton. Some of tho shipments arrived here in good ord&r, but two were in such a bad way that it was decided to throw them overboard. . Retail prices do not appear to have been much affected by the arrival of the shipment, the ruling prices for the Maui.Pomare’s bananas yesterday being eight and ten for Is, with inferior grades a little cheaper.