FRUIT CANNING TRADE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5399, 13 March 1929, Page 2

FRUIT CANNING TRADE.

OUTLOOK FOR NEW ZEALAND.

PROSPECTS IN WORLD MARKETS.

New Zealand can never exptci to compete seriously in the; world markets with California in the packing of canned fruits as the massed: production necessary to reduce heavy overhead expenses could not. be expected. That is the opinion of Mr

Arthur Duncan, who is op a visit to Dunedin from California. Mr Duncan

lejf.t Dunedin in 1884 for Australia, and four years later he went to America. He Is now a citizen off the United States for over 35 years. Mr Dunean has been associated with

the canning industry, both fruit and salmon, in California. The industry, he said, in an interview with a Star reporter, was in a very prosperous condition, although the competition was tremendous. Owing to the heavy production developed, especially in the clingstone peach branch of the industry, through the heavy prices received /'during the war period and as late as 1928, the; farmers had become a little too enthusiastic, and they failed. realise that the high prices would eventually have; to be lowered. The effect of the high prices, especially during 1919, was that fhe farmers planted large areas of fruit, and now these areas wtre producing quantities far in excess of the world’s demandte. The consequence was that the farm-, ers were not iipiw receiving pric.es which would recompense them for the costs of production.

The; present consumption of clingstone peaches throughout the world was about 14,000,000 cases off. 24 cans a case, said Mr Duncan, while the orchards in bearing yielded sufficient: to produce 20,000,0'00 cases of canned peaches.

Discussing the; prospects of the canning industry in New Zealand, Mr Dunc.an added, “The fruit is of verthigh quality. As to whether the packing of fruit in New Zealand could ever compete with California, is, to my mind, not in the question, owing to; the fact that it takes a tremendous volume in any oiie; factory in the year to reduce the overhead expenses connected' with all manufacturing,, and especially in the fruit canning- industry in America the home consumption alone is, trejmehi dous.”