A REMARKABLE YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 12

A REMARKABLE YEAR.

EXPORT OF FRUIT.

IMPORTANT GROWTH IN

AUCKLAND

ALMOST 60,000 CASES

No primary industry in the Dominion has a record for development of the export trade that r-an equal that of the fruit growing inda»try during the past vciir.

The year 1023 26 marked ;i very greatly increased production in the orchards of New Zealand, and an exceptional increase in t' p percentage of the production, which was of line quality ami available for export.

licvlfcwing the recent progress. Mr. T. C. Brash, president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation, stated at the tenth annual conference of Auckland fruitgrowers to-day that the export of applce from Auckland province had increased from 7000 cases in 1025 to f>S,-T64 cases in 1926. A return of export showed that eighteen varieties of'apples had been included, prominent among which were 26,000 cases of Delicious, 7~>oo Dougherty, and 6000 Dunns. The pears were 537 cases of P. Barry. 133 of Packham's Trump, and 100 of B. Bosc. The number of individual participators was 160, and 53 had exported less than 100 cases each. This showed that much encouragement was being given to the small man. The Orchard Districts. An analysis of the Auckland returns showed that the quotas of the various orchard districts were: North Auckland, 16,440 caees; Henderson, 12,717 cases; Huapai, 11.770; Oratia, 9296; AlbanyBirkdale, 2068.

Fruit shipped to Europe was 38,039 cases of apples, and 740 cases of pears; to South America, 12,959 cases of apples; to Honolulu, 1884 cases of apples. In the shipments to England consignments had been sent for the first time from Auckland, to Liverpool and Glasgow, in addition to a great increase to London.

The fruit "was now being sold in various markets of the world, and the selling prices were at least equal to those which ruled on the local market. London Market Question. "In spite of the great development of the export trade, the local market is juefc as urgent a problem, and there is just as much a glut to-day as ever there was," remarked Mr. Brash. Continuing, he said there was a general desire for a better quality of apple. The growers were aiming at it, and the consumers were beginning to demand it. The quality of the exported fruit won id gradually fix the quality of the locally marketed, fruit, and Mr. Brash hoped that, as far as standardisation was concerned, there would be a universal movement for local control.

The report that will he placed before the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Council, Ltd., to-morrow, by the president (Mr. S. W. House), states that the Act should be amended, to allow of local control coming into force if carried by 60 per cent of the votes polled. Control ofTSxport. The estimated crop, for export last year had been 400,000 cases for New Zealand, and the actual crop had been 730,000 cases. A contribution of £500,----000 to the returns from exported produce had resulted through the first shipments. The Board of Control had experienced great difficulty in arranging for extra space beyond the estimated requirements.

"The board has decided it will take a measure of control next year, so far as the choice of merchant and market is concerned," stated Mr. Brash.. At present the board had a.delegate visiting England to make investigations into marketing conditions. With a view to improving the situation at this end, the New Zealand Federation had appointed a representative to act in Auckland.

In conclusion, Mr. Brash said that the Board of Control had a suggestion before , it which, if carried out, should more than pay for export coste