BIG LOSSES IN ORANGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 775, 23 September 1929, Page 10

BIG LOSSES IN ORANGES

SEVERAL THOUSAND CASES FOR DESTRUCTOR WAIPAHI’S SHIPMENT Exceptionally heavy losses have been suffered by consignees of the Waipahi’s shipment of Cook Island oranges which arrived in Auckland last week. Up to 50 per cent, of the shipment arrived in bad order, and several thousand cases were sent to the destructor. The vessel carried approximately 10,000 cases of oranges from the Cook group, a big percentage of the shipment coming from the Island of Mauke, where the fruit has to be sent over the reef in surf-boats. All of last week’s shipment has required picking over and, while in some instances the percentage ot loss was not very high, in others, practically the whole case was found in a sweated or mouldy condition. At Messrs. Turners and Growers’ marts this morning over five wagon loads of rejected fruit was sent to the destructor, while the final lot will go this afternoon. Today’s operations are typical of those prevailing since the vessel arrived on Wednesday last. Messrs. Turners and Growers assess the percentage of the loss at little short of 50 per cent. Messrs. Radley and Company, who handled a smaller consignment, state that a 40 per cent, estimate of the loss would be very conservative. The lateness of the season and overripe fruit is given as one of the probable reasons for the high percentage of loss. There is also the possibility that some of the fruit may hane got wet prior to shipment. The fact that copra was stored in the same hold is also regarded as one of the probable' causes of the sweated fruit. Copra is regarded as being conducive to the generation of heat. Consignees of Island fruit generally allow for a 10 to 15 per cent, loss, but it is seldom that such a heavy loss as last week’s occurs.

LIMIT OF RATING

DRAINAGE BOARD’S LEVY QUESTIONED LEGAL OPINIONS CLASH From Our Oicti Correspondent JSTGATBA, Today. A question of great importance to drainage boards was raised at Turua on Friday, when formal objections to the Hauraki United Drainage Board’s rates*, on tho grounds that they would produce more than the sum allowed by law, were received from Mr. W. E. G. Wihy and from a group of 20 Horahia district settlers. Tho settlers contend that the limit of six farthings in the € 1 on the rateable value refers to the unimproved valuation, not the capital valuation, as the board maintains. Legal advice supporting both views lias been received by the two parties. The petition can be cleared up only by a Supreme Court judgment. Tho settlers contend that, as the Hauraki Plains County Council rating is on the unimproved valuation, the Drainage Board’s limit must be fixed on the same basis. The board -holds that the wording of the Act has not actually been altered, despite amendments and consolidations, since the first Act of 1894, when the only system of rating was on capital valuation. The board and its solicitors also contend that geographical aspects must, be considered, as a drainage district might be within several counties which used different systems of rating. Mr. W. K. G. Willy i*aised an objection to the mode of levying special loan rates on thfe grounds that the proportions advertised would give preferential treatment to certain ratepayers through about 450 acres in the Hauraki special rating area being exempted. Tho chairman. Mr. H. H. Hicks, however, explained that the 450 acres mentioned were classified in the “D” grade, being exemo from all rates.