FRUIT MARKETING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 53, 26 November 1926, Page 12

FRUIT MARKETING

CONTROL BOARD AT WRONG END

GENIUS IN LONDON WANTED

Dominion Special.

Auckland, November 25,

The institution of the Control Board as a solution of the difficulties of Dominion fruitgrowers is not favoured. byMr. Stewart, of Richmond, Nelson, an orchardist, who, upon his return from England by the Arawa, said lie had made close investigations into English marketing conditions. ’Tie suggests the appointment of a London markets manager. “Orchardists here are quite pleased to get a penny per pound for their apples on the trees, yet these apples are selling in London at Bd. and 10d. a pound,” said Mr. Stewart. The apples were bought through agents at 6s. a case and retailed at from 245. to 30s. a case. American competition was very strong, and the Americans had their own cold stores in London. “I visited Canada House in London,” added Mr. Stewart, “and made the suggestion that Canada, Australia, and New Zealand should combine to erect similar stores in London. ' Later I noticed the announcement that the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, had offered a subsidy of £1,000,000 this year to assist oversea industries. I had left England when Mr. Coates arrived, but on the day I left I wrote to him, suggesting that he and the other Dominion Prime Ministers should urge that a portion of the subsidy be set aside for cold storage. I believe something of this nature has been done, and consider it is the beginning of a real business partnership between the Old Country and the Dominion. Covent Garden is going to be closed down, and this seems to be a suitable opportunity of looking for a strategic point.” Mr. Stewart considered that, in marketing its ‘ fruit, New Zealand had little to learn. “I think the Control Board is at the wrong end. What is , reallv wanted is a manager in London with a genius for marketing, who could, if it were thought necessary, be aided bv an advisory committee. He should be a highly paid official invested with the responsibility not only of marketing, bu,t also of having the necessities required bv orchardists.” •