CANNED FRUIT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 17, 4 February 1937, Page 14

CANNED FRUIT

Serious Outlook For Australia U.S.A. COMPETITIO.N •Reports which.have reaphed the Australian Federal Government indicate that the approacking export season will be the most unsatisfactory whicb canned fruit exporters have faoed for several years, owing largely to Amencan competition. . It is feared that there will be great difficulty in disposing of the exportable surplus , of canned peaches and pears. The peach crop this year is slightly heavier than it was last year, and the crop of pears is considerably above last year's level. There is a heavy carryover of canned pears not exported las^ season, and competition from Califor-" nian growers on the London market — the only important outlefc |or the Aus-

tralian pack — is unusually severe. Because of this, it will be extremely difficult for the whole of this season's pack to be exported. The position is vjewed seriously, because of the fact that good markets and high prices for peaches and pears, which have prevailed for several years, have eneouraged greater production. Increased areas planted in peaches will be in neavy bearing nest year. The Oommonwealth Government, accordingly; has revealed the representations which were made at the Ottawa conferenee for a specifie preferenee of 1/6 a dozen cans for Dominipn canned fruits. At Ottawa, the request for a specific rato of protection was rejgcted and an ad valorem rate substituted. The heavy price-cutting practised by American exporters in the last few nionths to capture the London market has rendered the ad valorem rate ineffective, and the situation of AustraUan growers next season is likely to be serious unless additional protection is provided in London.