H.—3OA

lliese quantities of Commercial Grade have been marketed :—

The growers were again paid at the average rate of Bs. 2d. per loose bushel (equivalent to 12s. 3d. per cured packed bushel) for all marketable grade lemons supplied over the year. Details are

Per Loose Value. Bushel. Total, all Sheds— £ s. d. 90,254 cases .. .. .. .. 33,128 11 2= 7 4-092 Bonus value .. 3,670 11 8= 0 10 Total value .. .. .. .. £36,799 210 = 8 2-092 By-products First Peel Lemons— £ d. 15,273J cases (529,634 lb.) @ 4s. 9d.per loose bushel .. .. 3,627 9 1 Second Peel Lemons— 136 cases (5,162 lb.) @ 3s. 2d. per loose bushel .. .. 21 10 9 Juice Lemons — 4,896| cases (186,111 lb.) @ Is. 7d. per loose bushel .. . . 387 12 10 £4,036 12 7 Total By-product Tonnage— Tons. Peel ■ • .. .. .. .. 238 Juice .. .. .. . . .. .. .83 321

Pineapples Owing again to an abnormal demand for pineapples in Australia and owing also to a lack of a regular shipping service, the quantity of pineapples imported was below requirements. The quantities imported this year were as follows :—

6

Source of Supply. e , nde ,l- Year ended 31st March, 1944. j 31st March, 1943. f-bushel Cases. f-bushel Cases. New Zealand .. .. 82,900 cases —i.e., 88-0 per cent. 61,500 cases—i.e., 79-7 per cent. Australia .. .. 10,826 cases—i.e., 11-5 per cent. 14,316 cases—i.e., 18-5 per cent. Cook Islands .. .. 428 cases—i.e., 0-5 per cent. 1,370 cases—i.e., 1-8 per cent. 94,154 cases 77,186 cases

Auckland. Tauranga. Kerikeri. Gisbome. Comltrdal. Commercial, Commercial. Commercial. 0 ommcrSu. Commercial. 17,333 10,200 36,187 15,789 4,422 2,114 3,000 1,208 63% 37% 69-6% 30-3% 67-7% 32-3% 71-3% 28-7% Y ' Y ' V y ' y y ' £10,032 13s. 5d. £19,034 lis. Id. £2,438 5s. 5d. £1,623 Is. 3d. s - d. s. d. 8. d. a. d. Average price 7 3-453 Average price 7 3-9 Average price 7 5-1 Average price 7 8*5 Bonus .. 0 10 Bonus .. 0 10 Bonus .. 0 10 Bonus .. 0 10 8 1-453 8 1-9 8 3-1 8 6-5

Year ended Year ended Source of Supply. 31st March, 31st March, 1944. 1943. , Australia .. .. .. .. 3,033 2,528 Tonga .. .. .. .. 582 336 3,615 2,864