FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 13

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

EMPIRE COMMODITY COUNCILS KINGDOM FRUIT SUPPLIES (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON. August 25. There is a growing weight of opinion in the ranks of British producers in favour of the establishment of Empire Commodity Councils, and the fact that the Government is solidly in favour of the putting into effect of the proposals adopted at the recent Sydney conference is hailed with general satisfaction. According to a report from Canada, the speech made by the Prime Minister at Kettering gave the impression that it definitely refuted some of the arguments advanced at the Sydney gathering. Mr Chamberlain’s observations, to which wide publicity was given, synchronised with the issue of a report on the Empire Producers’ Conference published by the Canadian Chamber of Agriculture, and it is thought in London that the urgent cablegrams from the Dominion, seeking confirmation of the British Government’s attitude toward home agriculure. led to Mr Morrison’s statement that the Government was “in general agreement with the view expressed by the Sydney_ Conference that the orderly marketing of primary products was _ necessary m order to maintain continuity of supplies and to prevent instability in price levels and speculation.” The instant and strong reaction in the United Kingdom to the Premier's address, backed by Mr Morrison’s declaration, won Canada’s wholehearted _ support for the Sydney proposals, and it is now reported that farmers’ organisations in the Dominion have already set a campaign afoot to promote the setting up of the suggested Empire Commodity Councils. It is stated that the possibility that exports of farm products . from Canada. Australia, and New ‘ Zealand to the United Kingdom may eventually have to be restricted, is causing leaders of agricultural organisations in Canada to face the possibility that sooner or later Canadian producers may be forced to consider the adoption of a policy of controlled production consistent with the ability of the United Kingdom market to absorb imported supplies without detriment to the position of the home farmers.

Apple and Pear Production According to the latest report of the Imperial Economic Committee, as far as can be estimated the number of apple and pear trees in the world at the present time is of the order of 600,000.000, yielding on the average some 500,000,000 to 600,000,000 bushels of apples and 125,000,000 to 150,000,000 bushels of pears a year. There has been a considerable decline in the number of apple trees since the years before the War, and there has been no appreciable expansion in the area under pear trees, although the (total yield of apples has been well maintained and the output of pears has increased. The absence of any marked reduction in the size of the apple crops and the increased yield of better quality fruit can be attributed mainly to the change over from ordinary farm cultivation to more specialised production in commercial orchards, a change which has been taking place since the war in the United States of America, the United Kingdoifi, the Dominions, and, in fact, in most of the important producing countries. The main effect of this change in the methods of production has been a general all-round improvement, not only in cultural technique but also in the ways of preparing for market and marketing of fruit. While in most countries there has been little or_ no expansion in the area under cultivation, very considerable progress has been made toward the replacement of old trees. Research has not been confined to cultural problems alone; it has pointed the way to improved methods of storage and transport and to more efficient methods of utilisation in the field of canning, evaporating, the production of cider and unfermented fruit juices and the like. With the increasing use of cold and gas storage, especially by the growers themselves, the marketing season has been extended by several months and. in consequence. the wastage in heavy crop years, which formerly was considerable, has been appreciably reduced. Dairy Produce Commenting on the dairy supplies to the United Kingdom in 1937, the London Chamber of Commerce points out that, like many other primary industries, dairy farming in the United Kingdom and the Dominions has been severely hit in recent years by low prices, but with the improvement in the last 18 months there has been a welcome change in its condition. The value of dairy produce imported by the United Kingdom last year amounted to nearly £73.000.000. The predominance of New Zealand in the butter and cheese market makes that Dominion the chief source of supply, its business last year being valued at more than £21,000,000. Australia is third with more than £8,500,000, but her trade is not much more than half that of Denmark, which ranks second. Canadian business last year exceeded £3,000,000, and that of Eire £2,250,000. The only other Empire country of importance supplying dairy produce to the United Kingdom is South Africa, whose contribution in 1937 totalled £500,000. Supplies of imported butter were smaller than thosea in 1936 and amounted to nearly 9,500,000 cwt, valued at £47,250,000, which showed an increase in value of £3,000,000 on the total of the preceding year. New Zealand, which for its size is the most important dairying country in the Empire, is the chief souzxe of supply, furnishing last year nearly 3,090,000 cwt of butter, but it is surprising to'note that Australia, which two years ago began to approach the New Zealand total, has now fallen away to less than I.SOO.OOOcwt. Australia, however, claims to be the largest butter-producing country in the Empire, for although her total exports are less than those of New Zealand, the larger population of the Commonwealth consumes a higher proportion of the total output than is represented by domestic consumption in the smaller Dominion. Supplies of Eirish butter have also declined.

SHOW DATES Secretaries desirous of having the show dates of their associations included in the above list are requested to supply the information. October 18 and 19—Marlborough. October 20 —Ellesmere. October 24—Kaikoura A. and P. Gymkhfln&< » October 28—Amberley. October 28 and 29—Timaru A. and PAssociation. November 3—Ashburton. November 4—Northern, at Rangiora. November 10 and 11—Canterbury Metropolitan. November 16—Waimate. November 17—Peninsula, at Duvauchelle. . _ November 18 and 19—North Otago, at Oamaru. November 19 (Saturday)—Courtenay: at Kirwee. November 26 (Saturday)— Banks Peninsula: at Little River. December 10—Wyndham. December 31—Amuri Cob and Pony, at Rotherham. 1939 February 7 and B—Dannevirke. February 14 and 15—Masterton. February 18—Hawarden. March 3—Kaikoura. March 21—Amuri, at Waiau. March 11—Cheviot. March 25 —Methven. April 10—Mackenzie Highland Show; at Fairlie. March 11—Cheviot. March 11—Mayfield. 1938-39 WOOL SEASON ROSTER OF SALE DATES The following roster of sale dates for the 1938-39 season has been drawn up by the New Zealand Wool Committee:— November 26 (9 a.m.)— Auckland. December 2 (9 a.m.)— Napier. December 7 (9 a.m.) —Wellington. December 12 (9 a.m.)—Christchurch December 16 (8 a.m.)—Timaru. December 20 (9 a.m.) —Dunedin. January 9 (9 a.m.) —Wellington. January 14 (9 a.m.)— Napier. January 19 (9 a.m.) —Wanganui, January 24 (9 a.m.) —Auckland. January 30 (9 a.m.)—Christchurch. February 3 (2 p.m.)—lnvercargill. ■ February 8 (9 a.m.) —Dunedin. February 15 (9 a.m.) —Wellington. February 20 (9 a.m.)— Napier. February 24 (2.30 p.m.),—Wanganui March 3 (9 a.m.)—Christchurch. March 7 (8 a.m.)—Timaru. March 11 (2 p.m.)—lnvercargill. March 16 (9 a.m.) —Dunedin. March 23 (9 a.m.)— Wellington. March 27: (9 a.m.)— Auckland. March 30 (2.30 p.m.)—Wanganui. April 3 (9 a.m.)— Napier. • April 14 (9 a.m.)—Christchurch. April 19 (9 a.m.)—Dunedin. April 24 (9 a.m.) —Wellington, forthcoming season have been arThe following show dates for the ranged:—