EMPIRE TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1932, Page 9

EMPIRE TRADE

CANADIAN'S VIEW

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

Whiln on ;i, visit to Blenheim a. few days ago, ■Mr. 11. I). Somerford, of Keloivmi, British. Columbia, who is -sidestepping Llio severe Canadian" winter by a tour of the Dominion, made some interesting observations with regard to fruit-growing in the Dominion and also in regard to Empire trade* 31V. Somerford is engaged in the orchard industry in Canada, and is, naturally, particularly interested iv comparing New Zealand's fruit-growing methods with those of his own country. He has been struck by the fact that the apple trees .iv New. Zealand are considerably smaller than those iv Canada, and he thinks this may be partly due to more severe pruning, though it is probably to be accounted for to a very large. degree by -the use of:a different parent stock. However, New Zealand, in his view, has adopted the type of tree most suitable for this, country, and. he is impressed with the splendid . appearance of the crop, its .cleanliness, and -the fact that the pests are well under control. .. . ." . . He mentioned that in the .western provinces of Canada orehardists grow principally the Melntoshi Bed, a, soft early apple, but'there arc fair numbers of Delicious, Newtown, and Jonathan. Ho had bo actual figures in regard to the output of British-Colum-bia, but said it was. very large. The market in Canada was a-big one; but, unfortunately, the .American growers iv the south supplied it pretty, heavily, to -the disadvantage, of orchardists iv the western provinces. Attempts to reach the English markets from western Canada had not proved a brilliant success, on account of the long railwayjourney to the Atlantic coast, and thore was little doubt that better results would 7:>o obtained if the apples could be. shipped direct to England from Vancouver by sea. Unfortunately,, the absence of cool, storage space'.on.tho ships engaged in that service prevented this. , New Zealand orehardists, he remariedj were fortunate In the fact that practically every ship in the Dominion trad© was fitted for" refrigerated work, and was thus .available''for tho carriage of fruit and' other produce demanding cool storage.. Conditions on the' Pacific Slope, lie said, were very different, and refrigeration ships were a rarity. ' ' ■ ' (JOLDBN OPPpETUNITIESMr. Somerford :is an: ardent advocate of the policy of trading within the Empire, being of the opinion that golden, opportunities are : being" lost under the present-haphazard system. He also looks forward to the establishment, as a result of the Honolulu conversations, of a complete trade agreement between Cauada and New. Zealand, on the lines of that recently completed between Canada and Australia. He says that the average Canadian has a warmer regard for New Zealand and New Zealanders than he has for Australia, so that the present difficulties between the two Dominions have been regretfully noted all over Canada. In his view there is no reason why Canada should not take every pound of surplus butter which New Zealand has to offer, for he points out that under present conditions Canada makes butter in the summer and stores it for winter use. Instead of that, she could export her summer surplus, and then import the New Zealand article, which came on the.market in the Canadian, winter, for winter use. He added that there ■ were many other" al-tieles of New--' Zealanalorigin which would-fnd a--ready market in Canada. ' .. ■ ■■. •.-: Another of Miv gomerford'a suggestions is that Canadians - should: be encouraged to spend part of the Canadian winter in New Zealand, and New Zea^ landers.to visit, Canada- .-There-was- an exceptionally fine shipping service, he pointed out, and to be true to the principles of trade within the Empire colonials should patroniso it in preference to using a foreign-owned service. .1 am all for trade within the Em-' pire,'' he concluded;,' "and let the foreigner go hang!" The visitor has been, in New Zealand since the end of November, and will remain here until February. He says he is charmed with the country and its warm-hearted, hospitable, people, and is delighted to meet English birds and trees again, while he has fallen a victim to the lure of the glorious New Zealand bush. . ■