THE APPLE INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 228, 21 June 1921, Page 9

THE APPLE INDUSTRY

PROSPECTS ARE GOOD. The prospects of the apple industry were mentioned at the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zealand. "I have- had an interesting talk with Mr. A. Gilbert, ex-chairman of the. Nelson Fruitgrowers’ Council.” said Mr. Harold Beauchamp. "That gentleman commented on the highly satisfactory prices received for Nelson apples In. England, and went on to say that the industry was looking particularly bright at, tho present time. Ha pointed out that Nelson provided a big portion of the apple Teqiiirenienty of Otago and Canterbury, nlninst the whole of those of the Wes* Coast and Wellington districts, n conelderablo part of Auckland's, and. tr addition, found practically the whole of the apples for export. Nelson, having now resumed exporting, and having weathered the lean years, tho growers had more confidence and werif able to finjl the necessary wherewithal for lime and manure, anil put their orchards in n. thorough state of cultivation. This would result in the production of a still greater percentage of high-grade exportable fruit. Growers, added Mr. Gilbert, wore looking to tho future of the industry with every confidence. "Mr. Gilbert also alluded to the satis♦actory outturn of a shipment of apples ex ss. Athenic, which was recently sold on the London market. Some descriptions realised as high as 335. per case of 401 b whilst the average of the total consignment fivn.s, 'pay. 25-s. per ease. Making the fullest allowance for all charges, from time of picking in the orchard until realisation in London—estimated at 16s. per case on the high side -this) would mean a net. return io tlm growers of not less than 9s per ease. Tt is estimated that Id. per lb, or 3s. 4d. per case, will pay actual epet of production w that a return of »s. would leave a handsome profit to those engaged in rhe industry. Tt. may lie noted that freight to-day from Now Zealand ito London is certainly 100 per cent, more than it was in pre-war days Any reduction, therefore, in transit and other chargee for which I think we may loot In the near future, will mean so much more to the growers/-