The Chronicle LEVIN. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1916.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 April 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1916.

! THE APPLE-GROWING INDUSTRY. - J In the iieai' future, Levin and Dis- ! tiict, in i'aot Ilorouiiemia County, will ' Le financially interested to a great le--1 £ree in the apple industry. We almost had; written "concerned." for unless adequate steps be taken to proi Tide payable and adequate markets .or : the produce ol the many young orcli- ! ai'ds now approaching the jprofit-yield-i ing. stage in this ami other diistricts, a prospective source of gain will '<<»- comc an avenue of disappointment, financial loss, and of future discouragement of the spirit of business adventure in general. At present tiie apple-export industry is hampered very much by the difficulties that accompany all endieavour.s to secure oversea carriage for exports, ond such New Zealand districts as Jiotuoka llio Clutha, aind Central Otago are very seriously upset bj this. Apropos to this phase, an interesting letter 'as been sent to The Chronicle by Messrs Chandler and Co.. Ltd.. of Auckland, Wellington, Chrietchurch. and; Duni cdin. For benefit of settlers in this district, we reprint the letter in extonso. It runs:—"Since the exportation of apples is now made improbable by the shortage of shipping, and having in view the lame interests nt ; stake, it is imperative that some scheme be evolvedi, and that quickly, whereby the apple ' growers may be enabled to market their fruit. Now i Ihis matter is one that can be solved | by fiiist of all acquainting the general j public of the value of apples as food i and secondfy, that the supply be plentiful. constant and reasonably priced. As a firm specializing in the pushing of commercial products through educational advertising, we have considered this question closely, and would like to make the following suggestions as to what, in our opinion, would be the best means to stimulate demand. AVe say at once that educational advertising on a national scale, linked up ™th a thorough and system of distribution is the key to ■ the situation—skeleton plan of -which is as follows:— (I).—That the opinion ol well-known medical men be obtained testifying to the dietetiv value of apples in health and disease—same to be given wide publicity hv prefis, postier, booklet, and circular. (2).—That the demonstrators in cookery classes at the various "technical colleges ho instructed: to prepare a series of recipes in which apples are the main constituent—same to he col- ' 1 , , '

latcd and published throughout the press of New Zealand as riiJws matter. ■ $■—A, eoroll<ft.y to the stimulating of a demand for apples is that appl"? of approved quality shall ho readily available throughout the year—without this any advertising would be without full effect. Our suggestion is fliat supplies be graded jn tlie various centre's and stored in cold ohambers, from whence the.y 'could be distributed through ordinary trade channels as required. The grading should be done hy independent graders, preferably the Government experts and wrapped, in tissue paper, bearing tlio name and grade-number and sold ai' set prices per grade. At least, this should be done with the first-grado fruit audi might be dispensed with in the cheaper 'graded, were the cost too great. 4.—Steps should be taken immediately to ensure the plentiful use 01 apples at (a) military camps, (b) Government institutions, "(e) transports, (d) for use of our soldiers at the front. The difficulty of transport could be overcome here by using the tonnage in Government ships, cioseoi to the carriage of commercial produce m tlie ordinary way of trade. Under this heed would come not only tlie supply of fresh apples, but of apple jam, cider, driedi apples, apple chutney and other prepared apple products. (5). —As touched in the above clause, we think that a splendid demand v eould be made in New Zealand for a locally Dressed and fermented apple cider. sold: to the public by a trade namo ("Anzac Cider," as a suggestion an<l trade mark) and guaranteed by the Government as to its pel feet purity The liquor trade claims to be faced with a shortage of distilledi liquors, and it would be distinctly to the public interest, were a pure apple cider, or sparkling as may be, substituted for the whiskies and brandies ot high alcoholic strength now soldi in hotels. (<s>.—With sunshine such an attribute of the Dominion, why could not n portion of the crop be dried and evaporated. -These dried apples need not compete with the fresh fruit asretailed. but could well be used) for export to the troops, as being less bulKy and not requiring cold storage space. As regards the finance of 1 his tcheme, it occurs to us, this coukl be arranged by an excise charge upon the grower at so much per case, such amount to be subsidized £1 for £1 bv the Government. We have in m : nd in this connection a campaign conducted by the Greek Goverment some ten years ago to market the surpl is nop of Zante currants in England. Tlie result of this campaign was so successful that, instead of being, as originally intended, a mere temporary icliei, it resulted in a permanent,.stimulus to currant consumption that has paid handsome as a commercial venture as well as a relief to the immediate stress ot over-production. The same course is constantly foi.owcd in America for pushing the consumption of various fruits and, where systematically conducted, has alw'iys justified its expenditure. The appeal to patriotism, to pocket, to health, to the public interest are so strong in the case of our own apples that we feel convinced of its success."