DOMINION FRUIT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 42, 18 January 1938, Page 5

DOMINION FRUIT.

EXPORTS OVERSEAS. BIG SHIPMENTS EXPECTED. WELLINGTON, Jun. 18. Export shipments of fruit from New Zealand this season are likely to be heavy, according to the Fruit Export Control Board’s latest information. The first shipment will he taken by the motor-ship New Zealand fytar, which will load 9000 cases of apples at Wellington early next week. The next two shipments will ho 14,500 cases by tho motor-ship,. Port Jackson, and 25,000 cases by the liner Remuera. All throe vessels are due at London during March, thus enabling nearly 50,000 cases of, apples to be put un the London market early in the season when the best prices are ruling. ' i The crop prospects for the main exporting districts, Nelson and Hawke’s Bay, are extremely favourable. Lt is anticipated that each of these districts will have heavy export crops, and if they do not equal tho record figures of 1934, they will not be far short. On the other hand, the apple and pear crops of Auckland are slightly below average, but Poverty Bay, Marlborough, and Canterbury have good average crops. Parts of the Otago district, which this year will be under the control of the board for the first time, unfortunately have had portion of their crop spoiled by frost, with the result that this' year’s export quantity will represent only about 25 per cent, of their normal shipments. The general position, however, will be that the preponderance of fruit from Nelson and Hastings will more than offset the shortages in Auckland and Otago, and it is anticipated that the total quantity exported will be about 1,500,000 cases of apples and pears. REGULATION OF SUPPLIES. .

The United Kingdom is the main export market for all fruit-producing countries, and several years ago the fruit producers of the Empire realised the necessity of regulating supplies in order to avoid chaotic marketing conditions. In consultation with one another, it was arranged that Nova Scotia, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zoaland would encli take steps to avoid gluts. In accordance with this arrangement, New Zealand has the renewed quantitative restriction for the export of apples to England during the coming season. New Zealand’s total is 1,150,000, and Australia’s quantity is 3,750,000 cases. This limitation of the main overseas market lias the effect of limiting New Zealand’s total export, as the other overseas markets, by reason of import regulations, trade treaties, or market conditions, limit the quantity of fruit which can be shipped. Anticipated shipments this season, in cases, are as follow: — Apples.— United Kingdom 1,150,000 Scandinavia 60,000 Continent of Europe ] 00,000 Canada and West Indies ... 60,000 South America 35,000 Eastern markets 10,000 1,415,000 Pears.— All markets 100,000 Total 1,515,000 Tho trade agreement between Now Zealand and Germany has apparently created great interest in the fruit markets of Hamburg, and the bruit Board lias received many applications from fruit brokers there. Canadian market prospects this year do not seem as bright as last year, so that, while at least 100.000 cases will life available for this market, the heavy crop of Canada and the probable repercussions of the trade treaty between Britain nnd the United States seem likely to limit Canadian imports from New Zealand to not more than 60,000 eases.