ORANGES GO BAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1938, Page 5

ORANGES GO BAD

PORTION OF SHIPMENT FROM RAROTONGA LARGE QUANTITY UNFIT FOR SALE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 14. Ten tons of rotting oranges—portion of a large quantity of inferior Rarotongan fruit which was allocated to Auckland following the arrival of the Matua from the Pacific Islands on June 3 —were loaded aboard a refuse launch today and dumped in the sea beyond the harbour limits. Three laden lorries were required to carry the fruit from the city markets to the Western Viaduct and the oranges, which had been packed in expectation of commanding fairly high prices on the New Zealand market, were shovelled aboard by the bushel until the launch was almost overflowing. This loss, however, represents only a small proportion of the total quantity of produce which is proving unfit for sale and has required destruction. Merchants are not prepared to reveal the number of cases contained in the Matua’s shipment, but there is reason to believe that it was not less than 7000 and, in view of the fact that wastage has amounted to from 30 to 50 per cent., it is estimated that up to 100 tons of fruit has been thrown away as a dead loss. A ton of oranges was dumped by the refuse launch on Monday, and many have gone to market gardeners and orchardists for manure and the remainder has been quitted in whatever way has appealed to the various merchants.

As the produce is owned by the Gov r ernment, under the control scheme the loss will presumably be borne by the State The value of the oranges on the basis of a price of 10s a case is assessed at approximately £l5OO.

Authorities in touch with islands conditions explained that the principal cause of the trouble was to be found in the fact that orange trees in Rarotonga were old and had been neglected. There had always been fairly high percentages of waste in exported fruit but. with many trees now being cut out and a replanting programme under way, an improvement was expected.