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the boat leaves, when it is repacked, and the attacked fruit, 
which is easily seen, is discarded. As the fruit is brought 
to the wharf the fruit inspector selects two or three cases 
from each load, which are opened, when should he find fly- 
infected fruit the whole consignment is condemned.” 
As a result.of his enquiries in Rarotonga, Mr. Simmonds 
unofficially approached the Department of Agriculture in New 
Zealand to see if something could not be done to enable citrus 
fruits to be imported there from Fiji. He then suggested that all 
citrus fruits for export should be stored in fly-proof sheds for 8 to 
10 days before shipment and then packed and graded under super- 
vision, This proposal would overcome the difficulty of giving a 
certificate stating that no fruit-fly occurs within a mile of the 
orchard where the fruit was grown, and would thus open a new 
market for citrus fruits grown in Fiji. 
The attention of the Government of New Zealand was drawn 
to the above facts, and as a result that Government in November 
1920 made the following suggestions with a view to providing 
better control of the export of fruit from the Pacific Islands, and 
the prevention of the shipment of any such fruit affected by fruit- 
fly or other diseases :— 
*‘ (a) The Authorities of the Islands to erect at ports of 
“ shipment suitable sheds, having all openings covered with 
“ wire gauze.” 
** (b) All fruit for export to be in the above sheds at least 
5 days before being packed.” 
“(c) No fruit to be exported without going through the 
said sheds.” 
** (d) All fruit to be sorted and packed under Government 
supervision.” 
** (e) All fruit to be accompanied by a certificate stating 
“ that it had been held for 5 days in the Government sheds 
“ before being packed, and that in the opinion of the 
“* Inspector it was free from fruit-fly and other diseases.” 
It was considered that the above proposals, if given effect 
to, would obviate the condemnation in New Zealand of fruit 
infected with fruit-fly, and would be the means of saving a large 
amount of money lost in connection with freight on fruit that is 
condemned and would also provide greater security against the 
introduction of fruit-fly than the existing conditions afforded. 
A trial shipment of 344 cases of mandarins and 12 cases of 
oranges inspected and packed in accordance with the above sug- 
gestions was made by s.s. “ Tofua ” in May 1921. | The mandarins 
on inspection in New Zealand were found to be free from fruit-fly, 
and were sold at satisfactory prices. The oranges, however, were 
found to be infected with maggots and were therefore condemned. 
These oranges were kept in the same fly-proof chamber as the 
mandarins, and it therefore.appears that oranges are more liable 
to be attacked by fruit-fly than mandarins, probably owing to the 
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