“TOO GOOD”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 16 November 1927, Page 7

“TOO GOOD”

LAST SEASON’S FRUIT

EXPORT REASON FOR UNUSUAL SALES. COL. GRAY'S NOTE OF WARNING "I do not wish to appear a dismal jinny, but you are not likely to hav e another season like the last—it was too good,” declared Col. C. Gray, chairman ol the New Zealand Fruit Control ■Board, last evening, when speaking to a large gathering of Hawke's Bay fruitgrowers in Hastings, Col. Gray considered the past season a most unusual one and it would be hard to realise such a number of contingencies happening again to give New Zealand fruit another boom. Ho explained that one reaeon for the great sales was that West Australia. Victoria and Tasmania sent over 1,211,000 cases which was much below their usual consignments aggregating 2,250.000. In addition th# English strawberry market was a failure—the fruit not being less than lOd per lb. at any stage of the season. Then again the Frenchimported cherries were stopped while the Victorian' plum—a favourite in England—failed to materialise. "So it came about that hundreds of tons of small fruit, as we know it, was off the market and ol, e cannot expect such a thing to happen next year or for a good number of years. I don’t want the figures for last year to be misleading for .you cannot reasonably bank on them,’’ he declared. A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. ‘‘l do not want you to think I am throwing stones or criticising our sister when 1 tell you that West Australia, in my opinion, made a bad mistake in deciding to send half of the consignments to Hamburg. No doubt you saw some good prices but it was not the growers who made the money but the Gorman buyers. However, the biggest mistake lay in the fact that the West Australians offended the English buyers who, when they tried to obtain the fruit, found there was none available because it had gone to flits Continent,” stated Col. Gray. MANY GOOD FRIENDS The speaker then went on to say that the New Zealand agents made good use of the opportunity. The English buyers, at first, were reluctant to buy. but on finding that there was nothing else they had to "About 90 per cent of them came back again,” said the Colonel. “They are pretty rough and ready, these buyers, but they have long memories and are not likely fa forget what West Australia did. I am convinced that we have many good friends over there who will stand by us for many years to keep us at the head of the market. We can stay there if we carry on with a first-class grade and packing though it will be hard work to do it.” WHAT THE FRUIT REALISED. Referring to the markets Col. Gray stated that there were certainly a few mistakes as to the brands sent to the various markts. The Cox s should go to the West, North and London markets only, and next season this would be done. He was of the opinion that it would bo advisable to keep a few thousand cases of Jonathans in cool storage and then market them when the Otago Jonathans arrived. This, ho assured his hearers, would not in any way affect the Otago market for there was a big demand for that type of fruit. The following figures m bo the average price realised by the fruit were then given, Col. Gray pointing out that in some instances “sheer luck” helped some of the specialty fruits to bring in a big price:—Worcester, 5,928, 11/5; Cox, 22,946, 16/3; Dunns. 22,391, 12/7; Jonathan, 90,062, 13/1; Delicious, 49,394, 13/-; London 8.271, 12/-; K. David, 1,580. 12/3; Wine Sap, 681, 13/-; Adams P. 1,547, 12/3; Cleopatras, 3,495, 14/5 ■ Premier, 1,524. 11/6; Wolseley, 4,372, 12/1; Alfriston, 1,657. 12/4; G. Smith. 655, 21/4; Gravenstein, 1,244. 11/6; Russel, 670, 10/9; Stark, 518, 12/9; Newtown, 295, 14/4; Shepherds P.. 33, 11/-; W. Sharp. 509, I'2/2; Mack Red, 44. 13/5; Senator, 14, 13/2; Hoover, 373. 12/2; Spitz, 32, 12/9; Blenheim. 100. 13/4; Sharland, 113. 11/2; Ribston, 252, 10/3; Stunner, 140,487, 15/-; Statesman, 13,312, 15/9; Tasma,. 963, 15/2; Dougherty, 15,623. 16/9; Rokewood, 2,663. 16/11; Ballarat. 1,915, 12/8; Borne Beauty, 2.624, 15/8; Pioneer, 727, 14/5; Cambridge, 53, 15/-; MacMahons, 47, 11/11; S. Winter. 232, 16/7; Salome, 54, 17/11; E. Leppiate, 58. 15/-; G. Pippin, -39, 11/5; Washington 443. 7/11; Yates, 20. 15/4; Good Stiirmer, 596, 14/5. “AROUND THE CLOCK.” “Well, the Americans have completed the round of the clock,” stated Col. Gray, who explained that American fruit was being marketed all the year round. They had evidently solved the problem of cool storage for the fruit was certainly a picture to look at. It was not too good when eaten but unfortunately for New Zealand the public bought large quantities on appearances. The fruit had had eight months of cool storage yet was in great bloom when opened up. There had been reports that the American fruit crop was several million bushels short this season buj that did not necessarily mean that there would be a shortage of American apples in Britain. Quite a number of British buyers bought from America on a gamble that they would make a good profit. In this way there was quite a number of consignments sold last year, even though there was a loss to the buyer, but this would be made up in another season. “The estimated crop is, therefore, no real estimate for us on the English market,” concluded Col. Gray.