FRUIT INDUSTRY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 16 November 1927, Page 9

FRUIT INDUSTRY

POINTS ABOUT THE HOME MARKET EXPLAINED BY COL. C. GRAY. ADDRESS TO GROWERS. Fruitgrowers in the district ati tended in full force at Hastings last evening to hear Col. C, Gray, chairman of the Fruit Control Board, who recently returned from his visit to the Old Country where he had supervised the distribution of New Zealand fruit, give an address. The speaker opened by saying that during the year several new schemes were tried out. one being the advertising. Two good travelling men were on the road visiting retailers, and expounding to them things connected with New Zealand fruit. Then an artistic poster was circulated. This was a big asset, for in Britain the decorative poster was a big draw. The booklet had been substituted for an album, which had views of New Zealand orchards and scenes relating to the industry. The two men reported what the various retailers had to say and m this way Col. Gray was enabled to obtain a fairly good opinion as to how New Zealand fruit was looked upon by the retailer. “The scheme worked wonderfully well; we had the place plastered with posters and in all had some 11,000 replies,” declared Col. Gray. In addition the High Commissioner’s (Sir James Parr) suggestion of a publicity officer was acted upon, Miss Beere being appointed and she proved a very able woman. She answered questions about New Zealand and her work was excellently done. Thanks to the aid of the Federation and Mr. G. Boggih. the publicity campaign worked out at a cost of £BOO or £9OO. There is about £7OO with which to start the new esason and considering that we were able to get into personal touch with between 14,000 and 15,000 people I think the work was done pretty cheaply.” SHIPMENTS OF PEARS. The speaker then referred briefly to the three main shipments of pears. “The lonic was appalling the Pakeha patchv and the Hororata. fairly good,” stated Col. Gray, who explained that only 200 cases by the first ship were good; the remainder ; were packed wrongly. Their physical i condition was due to the wny they I had been packed. In some cases two l to five more could have been packed to the tray but really the trouble lay in the woodwool which was thin and allowed the fruit to batter and bruise itself. “No reasonable man could blame the shipping companies for it,” I declared the speaker, who stated that Ihe investigated the South Africa scheme of packing. They used at j least three-quarters of an inch of j woodwool, and softer too, so that ' when the tray was opened th e indent lof the fruit could be seen. Every | pear was swathed in wool and packed l in lots of 15, 18 . 24, 34 and 44 pears I to the tray. I “You uni never be accused by the | trade of giving short measure end you cannot overdo the woodwool,” stated the speaker. “It is the quality that counts and it doesn’t matter ' how many are in the tray so long as ; it arrives in good condition—it must I be first-rate.” ’ GOOD GRADE APPLES. ; Referring to the conference regardi ing sending good grade apples Col. i Gray said that though not in favour ; of the scheme he had nevertheless j voted for it on the board. Ho con-' ' tended that the board was the ; “spear-head” of the fruitgrowers and I it was for the board to see that the wishes of the growers were carried out in the best- way possible. “The board is bound to carry out any genuine desire and it is for the board to devise ways and means of this shipment, doing as little harm as possible, and also to give the grade a fair trial. I don’t believe in it and I hope to heavens very lit'tle, if any, goes at all.” (Applause). H e explained that the fruit would bear a different label and would not go to Covent Garden but to some other market, Col. Gray asked the growers to make a. point of giving instructions early in the season in regard to gift fruit. Unfortunately last season three orders could not be carried out owing to the instructions coming too late. NEW CASE SATISFACTORY. “The new case worked out admirably,” continued Col, Gray, who explained that the fruit travelled very comfortably and there was quite a bloom on it. The colour was all that could be desired and there was very little disease. Fortunately whin disease there was did not cause much tumble though there was a little misapprehension at one time when it was discovered that one certain brand showed signs of bitter-pit after being out of the freezing chamber for 36 hours. On another occasion ribbonsquall affected about one in six of 134 cases of Jonathans but this passed over and there was no further trouble. “ONE BIG GAMBLE.” When referring to the suggestion that fruit be sent direct to Hamburg, Col. Gray was of the opinion that it was better to be sure of getting 15/a case in London than 19/6 in a gamble at, Hamburg. It was far too risky to ship direct to the Continent. •It had been ascertained that quite a quantity of the fruit had been bought on the Tx>ndon market and sent to the Continent, and in this wav New Zealand was building up quite a little trade. “To mv mind no man has any right to add a gamble to a business that seems to me to be one long gamble from beginning to end.’,’ remarked the Colonel with a smile. ABOUT THE MARKETS. Speaking about the markets m Britain Col. Gray expressed his disappointment with Liverpool. Here they seemed to be a little “chilly” over New Zealand fruit, but he felt sure that with care this place would become a good market. Glasgow, Hull and the Midlands were good, there being quite an enthusiasm for New Zealand apples at Glasgow, while the Bristol and Cardiff markets were quite good. The speaker then went on to read figures indicating just what type of apple was sent to the various brokers in the different markets and what the average prices

for the fruit were. “In all some 412,464 cases of apples were sent to Great Britain and the average price was 14'1 per case,” declared Col. Gray, who added that the figures gave the hoard a fairly good indication of how tho markets stood in a gixid season and it could work out from this some outline for the coming season.