EXPORT OF APPLES TO

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1898, Page 2

EXPORT OF APPLES TO

LONDON.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I have been watching with much interest the reports as to Government assisting in the above, and yesterday's account seemed to render it desirable that I should now contribute some information on. the subject. Some 84 years ago I was grieved to note in the grocers' shops of the South Island such large quantities of Californian fruits. I wrote to the papers, brought the matter before the Chamber of Commerce of which I was a member, and advocated our. own fruits being preserved by canning or evaporation instead of being allowed to rot, as I discovered was the case, but the orchardists or public would; not respond. In 1890 I decided to send a few cases of apples and pears myself as presents to relatives and to be sold in Covent Garden market. I used old cases and engaged a man by the day to pick and pack only the best fruit regardless of profit or loss. They arrived in splendid condition excepting pears, and realised good prices. The consignees wrote me a congratulatory letter and sent me a printed list of prices obtained for the Tasmania exports, that year, when 50,000 cases Avere marketed. Correspondence ensued, and next year as they Avere expecting short crops, I arranged to export on a much larger scale. One of the orchardists, to whom eventually I paid nearly £500, instead of trying to help me, took advantage of the elasticity of the agreement to handicap me by sending to the. factory tons I had to reject and sell at a loss. It gave employment to a number of hands but L was heavily weighted. The shipping companies' charges were heavy, the cost of the timber for cases also heavy, shipowners cared only for frozen meat, and made ita favour to give me theneedfulroom. Through some mismanagement of the cool chamber on board the Aorangi, all the contents were spoilt, including .1,750 cases of my apples, and no redress Avas obtainable owing to the reading of the bills of lading (I sent nearly 5,000 in all). One case of Kibstones in an early shipment sold for 21s, two cases of a small very pretty pippin (Lord Lennox) which I packed myself realised 19s. Many cases sold at 15s, but the Tasmaniansseiit 130,000 that year, and they, having had large experience in grading and packing, commanded higher, prices. Subsequently, the agents of the London firms Avaited on me and local orchardists and expressed a wish that some of the latter could be induced to visit the Tasmanian orchards, which were immensely superior in their management to those of New Zealand, which were behind the times. I Avas inundated with correspondence, and learned that London buyers were prepared, to buy direct. 1 subsequently came to the conclusion that properly managed it could be made to pay, and brought the matter before the Minister of Lands and Sir Westby Percival. But, like all other businesses, to be successful it must he well managed and only superior fruit sent Home. The flax industry has been ruined by the greed of exporters, not taking care that ail the bale was equal in quality to the exterior. Londoners have. I think, great advantage over the provinces, but as has lately been suggested re frozen meat, it would be an excellent thing if Manchester was made a centre. I think rings exist in the auction rooms, but 1 may be wrong.It would be much better to'examine the fruit at the orchards or packing factories, to save additional handling and packing at the ports. The importance of the subject is my apology for length of letter.—Yours, etc., J. PECKOVBR. .

Auckland, January 27th, 1898.

His Lordship (after a heated discussion): 'What do you suppose Im on the bench for?' Smart'counsels 'Ah, my lord, you have me there.' jj':i