VALUE OF FRUIT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 110, 26 May 1937, Page 15

VALUE OF FRUIT

An Essential Part of Modern Diet MR. W. MORRISON'S VIEW LONDON, April 7. "Bread used to be regarded as the Staff of life. To-day it is estimated that bread does not form more than one-fifth of the dietary of our poor* est .citizens. We regard it as a substantial element, of course, but more and more people are beginning to realise' the maxdmum value to health of the protective foods, and in that regard fresh fruit and vegetables bulk very large," said Mr. W. S. Morrison* Minister of Agriculture, at the annual dinner of the National Federation of Fruit and Potato Trades, Ltd. He added that as this fact became more wddely recognised, fresh fruit and vegetables would take an increasing 1 part in the dietary of the people, and he urged that the most scrupulous attentiou should be paid to the quality of English products. Eeferring to the improvement. that had taken plaee already, Mr. Mofrison recalled that English fruit used to be the least well packed of any placed on the market. To-day that defect had been remedied to a great extent, and it wfes refreshing to think that last year a, considerable quantity of English fruit had been exported abroad. Two guests.at the dinner, who were given a welcome by Mr, G. T. Clark, temporary preeident of tHe federation, were Mr. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, and Mr. "W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner. "I would say to Mr. Nash that the members of the federation hold close to their heart the subject which calls for his immediate attention," Mr. Clark said. "The fruit market is naturally our greatest _ concern, and in order that our friends across the water and ourselves ehould understand each other it is to our interest hnd benefit that we should have the closest possible contact." Mr. S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia, who replied to the toast of the guests with Mr. Nash, Tomark— ed with a twinkle in his eye; "This is one oi those fortunate occasions when New Zealand and Australia &re hunting in couples in the most completely amicable relationship, and not, as they very often do, brawling amongst themselvee! " Taking what he described as "a shot" at Mr. Morrison, Mr. Bruce suggested that a greater restriction ehould be placed on the importation of American and other foreign apples during the Australian and New Zealand season. He recalled that in xecent years the dominions had limited the quan • tity of fruit exported to England, and he asked whether it was not a "bit of a tragedy" that such limitation should be imposed, since nutritional re search had proved that fruit and vegetables wero the two best protectiv* foods. If the people of England could receive the greater quantities of frui* and vegetables that. were available the standard "of living would be improved Buch a suggestion might be- visionary, but' at the same timo it was a hard By better nutrition a tremendoue .amount of good could be done for th»> health of the people, and it was possible to do more to-day than ever ip the past, "Surely," said Mr. Bruce, "we are going to have the wit to find xvays*and means whereby these neces* sary articles of diet can be brought to the people 's benefit. It is as greathuman question, something that can bring nntold benefit to millions of our fellow citizens throughout the world." Mr. Nash reminded his audience that there was no country more British than .New Zealand, and said_ that he entirely agreed -with the views expressed by Mr. Bruce. Far greater quantities of apples could be consumed in Great Britain if the people would take the advdce of "An apple a day." "I have been in England about fohr months now, and I must say that I have been profoundly astonished and -pleased -at the great respect that the Old Country, i(;s people and the members of 5,ts Government have for tho people of New Zealand," Mr. Nash continued. "I myself am a 50-50 man, for I was born in the Old Country, and I , have/lived - half my life in New Zealand. I know how New Zealand lives, and I know how the Old Country lives. "There ought not to be anyono in fche Old Country short of the things» tbat money can enable them to buy i.f there are means which can enable them to have access to those things. We ought not to let our orchards lie idle while fruit is needed in England. New Zealand wants to do all .the things that can be done to make the Commonwealth of Nations an examplo to the WOrld." _____ —mm mmm—m-