FRUIT EXPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 291, 8 December 1893, Page 2

FRUIT EXPORT.

The cablegram which appeared in last evening's issue respecting the supply of fruib in the London market and the prospects of Australasian shipments realißiug a high figure at Home, ought to inspire our orchardista with new hope. The results of previous consignments of fruib to London ' have been so disastrous to the growers that sry few ot them entertain the idea ot shipping Home in the coining: season. The cablegram referred to is surely calcuI latod to make them seriously think of altering fcheir intentions. "This season's supplies of American and Canadian applos for the British market are virtually nil" we learn. Thab is equivalent to eayiner that England will be dependent for her supplies of fruit on the shipments from Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand. The quantity of French and of native apples which is available in the old country is too insignificant to be worth "taking into consideration when estimating the prospects of Australasian orchardists in the coming season. The cablegram has reference bo the present state-'of the market, and shows thab stocks are very bare now ; bub two months henco, when the supply of home-grown apples will be exhausted, the scarcity of fruib will be more marked still. Now is the time for our fruitgrowers to bestir themselves. Thero appears to be a chance of recouping the losses the most enberpriaing of them have made on former consignments, and no one should neglect to seize ifc. The chancss aro thab the coming season in London will be as advantageous Ito the colonial orchardisb as thab of a few years ago, and the prices realised by him as high aa they then were, when as much as 25s a case of 401b3 was received for applos, and the average price ran about 159. But even supposing that those high ratos were not obtainable there is, wo might say, a certainty thao the bosb produce of our orchards will fetch double the money in London next year thab they will in the local market, The experience of the last two seasons has taught the- fruitgrower that he need not expect much more than balf-a-crow.n per case at best for hia prime apples, when ovory district around Auckland is pouring in tona and tons of apples to the auctions. Indeed, many would be glad if they could obtain that, the usual prices paid last year being only half that amount. It has been becoming clearer to our fruitgrowers every season that if they are going to continue at their occupation, some larger market must be found for their produce. In Australia, we learn to-day that the Executive have ofterf J a bonus ot 2s a case on fruit exported If thu* bonus ißßimply offo«d^"!i' he l^iJL I footemg the fruib export trade, It is very I

doubtful whether it is advisable. If ib is oSered with a view of increasing the production, the wisdom of ib is still very questionable. In New Zealand we need on such impetus to the production of fruit, for we have an embarras de richesse in the article already, and as to an induenment menb to export, the strongest inducement that can be offered to the orchardist is a remunerative price for his produce in London. Thab inducement, wo think, ia offered at presenb by the bare state of bhe London market, and we look to see our fruitgrowers take advantage of the opportunity presented to bhem. To do this ib is necessary thab there should be combined effort. Let the fruitgrowers in the several centres combine together and approach the shipping companies. . These latter will rather fighb shy of individual growers after the experience they gained last year. One thing they will assuredly insist on will bo a guarantee of such a number of cases as would make ib worth while for a steamer to make atrangements for conveying fruit. Last season, although a sufficient number was guaranteed, the settlers did not fulfil their engagements to the full in some cases, with the result that the New Zealand Shipping Company had a greab deal of trouble. Such a thinj* must not occur again. In their own interests the pottlers should make sure that it does not happen. If they can organise a strong combination — the stronger tho better—they will bo ablo bo make more advantageous terms for themselves than if they endeavour to work singly. With a strong combination, they should be able to promise and to supply such a consignment that tlioy would in all likelihood gob a steamer to call ab tho most suitable period of the year, and bo assured of the greatest care being talcon of their produce while in transit. The tooner they can come to some arrangement tho better, for tho weeks aro gliding past, and the fruit season, with its glutted local markets, will be on us. We repeat that after tho exporienco tboy have had orchardists aro justified in being somewhat chary of tempting tho London markeb, bub in view of tho cablegram just published, their enterprising spirib should bo roused anow.