APPLES FOR EXPORT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12607, 18 November 1926, Page 11

APPLES FOR EXPORT

MINIMUM-SIZE REGULATION SELLERS BEING HANDICAPPED POSITION IN HANDS OF GROWERS Circumstances in the fruit industry have made it practically certain that there will be a regulation governing the size of apples for shipment during the coming season. During the early period of export of apples to the Old Country, working on the advices leceived from London, certain minimum sizes were adopted, but from one cause or another smaller sizes were allowed to go forward. On what were reputed to be advices from brokers in London the sizes have been gradually decreased, the smallest range of all being exported last season. Recently the other side of the case has been presented to tho Government, by the High Commissioner’s office, the London brokers and Colonel C. Gray, who spent tho whole of last season in England, watching the interests of the fruit industry in the Old Country. The consensus of opinion, backed bv experience, is to tho effect that the main fault of New Zealand apples is the percentage of small sizes which have recently been shipped. INCORRECT INFORMATION Last season particularly it became abundantly evident that- some incorrect information had been acted upon, and it is now recognised that small sizesj instead of being wanted at Home, actually present considerable difficulties to the seller, who is hard put to it to quit them at a reasonable price. In consequence of this the whole matter of sizes for the coming season lias been reviewed, and in all probability with the exception of one or two varieties, tlie smallest sizes which will be accepted for shipment during the coming season will be 200 apples per case. Last season «, large number of 225’s went forward, 240's Wero also sent, andean some instances the sizes were smaller than that. However, the .position is .largely in the hands of the growers themselves, tinder New Zealand conditions fruit grows to a very Satisfactory size, provided that a normal amount of thinning is done. The amount of thinning depends of course to some extent on the health of the tree and the climatic conditions prevailing, . heavier thinning being necessary should anything in the 'nature of a drought obtain. But in anv circumstances growers should definitely take into account the development of their fruit crop and aim by means of cultivation, thinning, etc., to raise nothing but a satisfactory apple of normal size. ADDRESS BY COLONEL GRAY CAUSE OF POOR ENGLISH MARKET BRITAIN’S REAL ENEMY IS AMERICA Ter Press Association. HASTINGS, November 17. Colonel Gray, chairinatlof the Fruit Export Control Board, addressing a meeting ol fruitgrowers last niglit, j said that four things had contributed towards the poor English market last season. These were the arsenic scare, accumulation, late shipping of American fruit, and the general strike. The first was rectified by the Government assuming the liability for any claims for poisoning. New Zealand was the only country Which Was liot jammed during the strike, partly because the fruit was inaccurately classified as perishable and the door kept open. He urged the advisability of an authority in England having the power to direct ships, as the Port Hobart’s cargo was taken to Liverpool when it could have -been sold for 4s per ease more in London. He gave full details of the size and names of apples popular in the various English and Continental towns, and recommended the growers to make little pools among themselves of apples of selected size and marks. POOLING FORCED He said that Whether tho pooling was liked of not, it was being forced upon them by the Home conditions. They would hove to be satisfied with from 128 to Ifis, which would give a penny a pound ill the orchards. > He* ferring to the American competitions, he said the fruit was bought by. Speculators, cool stored, and heavily advnneed against in England. The east of handling was only about a fifth of tho Now Zealand fruit. There was a saving in stacking, packing, ahd clerical work. Colonel Gray added that it was not the “fed” pefil' that was Britain’s enemy, but America.