NEW ZEALAND FRUIT.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19391, 17 August 1928, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND FRUIT.

THE ENGLISH MARKET. PRICES AND CONDITION MAINTAINED. (raou oto own correspondent.) LONDON, July 13. Strawberries and cherries are to be «een in all shops and on all barrows at the present time, but for some unknown reason, the soft fruit trade has not thiß year depressed the price of applfes, though sales are Blower. Fortunately, New Zealand apples have been arriving in good condition, and it has not been necessary to place th'ein too quickly on the market. Judicious handling has been possible, with satisfactory results. Indeed, prices during the past few weeks ha\e remained very steady, though not so high, perhaps, as the producers would desire* - It was anticipated that the shipment to Liverpool by the Herminius ■would come on to a market flooded with 100,000 cases of Australian apples. Fortunately, the New Zealand fruit arrived two days before the Australian, and : prices were very fair. Prices for red apples were better than those in London, but Stunners were on a lower level than in London. The condition of the fruit was good, and one broker remarked that he had never seen a better consignment on the Liverpool market. The Devon and Westmoreland together brought 38,000 cases of apples for Hull Those on the latter vessel lybre' transhipped to the Devon. - One of • those pleasantries which is allowable in. the 6ale rooms was worked on the Hull buyers. They had had the benefit of "slaughtered" prices for Australian apples, and with 38,000 cases frota'New Zealand they turned up in filtt force, expecting another field day of low ' .prices. ,Mr H." E. Stephens, how* 6ve4' held "bafck* .part of the • consignment, and he also railed 13,000 cases to "Birmingham,' Newcastle, and Glasgow.s In consequence, the large number ©f lrayers had to bid ,to get what, they wanted, and~ prices ranged froip lis to 14s. Some 40,000 cases of landed at "Southampton from the lonic were ia good condition, bnt 1000 crates of . pears* were very, forward and wasty. A sihall proportion of this shipment ■fras sent to Cardiff, the remainder came ' tip l r to''London. Otago Fruit.The Port Adelaide ( brought 26,000 tos^s:;-of apples from Otago. Some li), 000 of these were sold by one broker, and the rest were distributed between ejghfc or ten others.. Unfortunately, there were a good many & complaints regarding ■ the condition of the' fruit, pome* of it was'very bad, and it was repwted that the Jonathans, although • lacking in colour, were over-ripe. Mr ' Stephens found 800 cases of 'these - Otago' apples at the 7 docks which no onevknew anything about. He. made •• enquiries himself and*. also put: the Blatter in the hands of the High Coin- - inissibner's' Department. He considers i that'they were meant for. the. Continent,o>nt no instructions Beemed.to have been- forwarded. It should ,be men* tipped, of course, that the Otago con- • ngnments do not come nnder the Fruit and their arrival and ißale is • no concern of Mr-Stephens. . AThis' week has been a record one'so • fAr.?as" the arrival of New Zealand - apples-vis concerned. Five- ships < have brought apples to London, and one'has Hull. The Somerset carries 22#0p cases (7000 from Otago), the Zealandio 25,000 cases, Tongariro Mamari' 45,000, and the Mahia aOjOOO (for Hull). Fortunately, -there lave f been no Arrivals of Australian l one shipment is due on gacturdby. " !? Btiurmers have been making 10s to 1 t ISs^case., One of the difficulties Mr v bas to contend with is the disposal "of a great proportion of ' Stunners. English buyers .do jJofcfwant them. He has been send- \ ing them to the Continent; where they r?f b'4ve' > brought fair prices. Delicious, , JbiifcLt&ans, Doughertys, and Statesmans ire'.rtinriiig'from 12b to'l3s 6d. ' 1 * BecelHirg instructions from" the 'Fruit L BoardT "Hr v Stephens is presenting to the New, Zealand Olympic -three : 4sksßß of ■ apples at convenient intervals. sh,e; first case has been much appro' members of the team.