H.B. FRUIT CROP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 57, 30 November 1937, Page 6

H.B. FRUIT CROP

Probably Best Season . on Record OUTLET FOR SURPLUS "All . fruitgrbwers are vitally interested in export this year, probably mOre"so than at any previous time, for it. is certain if no disaster intervenes, that the Hawke's Bay fruit crop this season will exceed any past record by fully 25 percent. Export will, therefore, be o»the utmost importance to this distri®, as it will be the only onttet for pia big surplns beyond the requirements of the local marke'ts. " Thus Mr J. H. Milne, president of the Hawke's Bay Fruitgro wers > Assoeiation, when introducing Mr A. L. Burke, representative of Messrs J. and H. Goodwins Ltd., of London, to a large assemblage of fruitgrowers in Messrs 0. H. Slaters, Ltd. shed. Hastings, last evening. Accompanying Mr Burke was Mr Gharles Goodwin, junr., a member of tho fiim, Mr J. A. Campbell, Director of Horticulture, and Mr W. Benzies, secretary of the New Zealand Board of Fruit Export Control. Also present were Messrs K. Paynter and D. S. McLeod, representatives on the board. Mr Milne said that Mr Burke, and also Mr Goodwin, had kad the opportunity of seeing a sample of the splendid crops and the conditions under which they were grown in this district as the 'xesult of a tour of the district that was undertaken througliout yesterday. "We have been doing our best to impress upon • them — our salesmen — tiie importance of their task. to us at any rate, and also of the necessity satisfacforily to market their share of what we hope will be a record export for both New Zealand and Hawke's Bay," he said with a smile. To successfully grow, pick and prepare a record crop such as was available this year was gding to be a heavy job, he added. The finaneial resources of the growers in "Hawke's Bay had been depleted to a level where it would be well-nigh impossible for many to do all that they should do, That neeessary provisionj in the way of sufficient cases, packing material and labour, ete., was going to have an important bearing on the carrying out of the season 's operations. Coupled with this would be the diffienlty of estimating the quantities likely to be handled, and also that of providing reliable estimates for shipping space. • "The 'outlook from the growers' point of view is definitely one of uncertainty," said Mr Milne. "Let us hope that Mr Burke, with his intimate knowledge of conditions at the other end of "the chain, may be able to give us a more hopeful outlook." Welcomes were also extended> by.'Mr McLeod, whb ' urged for special consideration to be given to the placement of the extra large sizes of Delieious apples 'on the • Brazilian market; and Mr Paynter, who said that the board was doing its very best for tho exporter,.and reminded growers that all the members of the board were . large exporters ..themselves, and naturally were not likely to do anything that would detract from the prices to be obtained. At the conclu'sion of his address, which is reported in another column, Mr Burke briefly referred to the chairman's Temarks regarding the bountifulcrop expeCted in Hawke's Bay. "May the 1938 export season," he said, "be to you in quality and averages the banner .year it promises to be in quantity. "