CANNED FRUIT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4614, 15 October 1923, Page 1

CANNED FRUIT.

HUGE SURPLUS IN AUSTRALIA. SUGGESTIONS FOR ’ ABSORPTION. Mr Austin Chapman', as Minister controlling the fruit pool operations, holds 647,000 dozen tins of canned fruit (says the Victorian Weekly Times), With commendable courage he has decided to try and settle in Australia. Can it be done ? The trade estimtaes that Australia’s annual consumption of canned fruit is about 500,000 dozen, so the surplus now held by the Commonwealth is 147,000 in excess of local requirements. Thfee months of the selling year have already gone. Unless things are shaken up properly there will be a carry over of at least 150,000 dozen. Publicity men reckon the local demand can be stimulated to the extent of absorbing it. The question is how ? Mr W. M. Cattanach, chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, under whose care are many of the canning districts of Victoria, said: “Ii think ' Australians ought to eat far. more fruit. In America the consumption, stimulated by publicity and good policy, is four tins per head, in Australia it is only about 1 1.-3 tins. There should oe big openings, too, for fresh fruit. Don’t lo.se sight of the fact that the larger the quantity of fresh fruit sold the less pressure there will be on the canning end; Arrangements could be made to sell as much fresh fruit as possible to .the human streams that pass down Swanstan and Elizabeth streets between 4.30 and 6 P.m. every afternoon, especially in the summer time. Such a trade should be rigidly controlled, and would not interfere with the ships. Notwithstanding anything that may be said to the contrary, I believe we can sell a lot in the East, provided we cut a little to meet American competition.’’ Mr H. W. Clapp, chairman of the Railways Commissioners, was practical as ever. "Let the people who want to sell this stuff get together round a table, plan out what they want to do, and how they are going to do it. Then let them get their propaganda busy and tell the public about it; I will help all I can in any direction desired.’’

Mr F. W. Vear, a. member of the executive of the Victorian Fruit-grow-ers’ Association, suggested that prices would have to be reduced. “The growers’ position is .serious,” he said. “A lot of soldiers on fruit blocks are on the point of giving up. It’s up to the public to help them.” Another suggestion, made by Mr W. Smith, was that fruit should be substituted for porridge for the family’s breakfast.