FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 6

FRUIT INDUSTRY.

TROUBLES OF GROWERS. MORE EXPORTING ADVOCATED. That Canterbury • should export more fruit to the British markets was the view expressed by Mr E. Freeman, president of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association, in his opening remarks at the monthly meeting of the erenmg. He stated tiat, alt present, the market was glutted with fruit, especially pears and apples. The time had come when it meant a loss for a grower to market pears. They _ were not a paying proposition. The apple market, too, was fast getting into a similar state, - and the only solution to the grower wm to use the outlet of export trade. Canterbury, in this respect, was far behind the North, where it had been realised long ago that shipping to the Home markets not only eased the glut of fruit, but made for a firmer local market. This question was not one to be dallied with, as without a doubt some growers would be practically forced out of the industry if present conditions were allowed to continue. The remedy was the exporting of a much greater percentage of supplies and the cuttine dowij of the quantities in cool storage, which had become too great. To a certain extent, he maintained, the glut was due to the fact that whereas Canterbury growers once had the Christchurch market, Loburn now supplied 70,000 cases of the quota. The local market would hare to be built up, and if growers here would only grow more for export they would bring abont a better local market.

In regard to cool storage, ,he added, it was now abundantly clear that it was being overdone. October, November, and December were ; reckoned on as the months for storage clearing, but in reality there were only two months in which to clear, as the American competition was very strong in the final month. Export was a solution io the storage problem also. If 10 petcent. were sent away, this might be sufficient to ease the local market.

Mr P. W. Cone supported the remarks made by the chairman, and stated that it was certain that Canterbury would have to double its export trade, to get a member on the Export Control Board, and also to prevent the continual glut on local markets. Nelson's point of view was that Canterbury's levy on fruit exported amounted to only £4O, and it cost £IOO to have a member on the Board. It had been found, also, that the direct method of shipping was the best. Transhipping at Wellington was not satisfactory, whereas fruit placed direct into the chamber carried to England in splendid condition, pears and apples carrying especially well. Considerable - discussion followed as to the. percentage it would be necessary to export to ease local markets, and Mr S. Frew, Government Orchard Instructor, of Canterbury, stated that he considered 50 per cent, would have to go overseas in the future in order to maintain marketable prices at Home. Once Nelson had had the bulk of the supplying of Wellington fruit markets, but of recent years up to 80 per cent, of the crops had been exported, and the result had been beneficial to growers. There should have been thousands more eases exported to England from Canterbury last season. Mr F. W. Sis son declared that growers must export, and should consider the. needs of both English and local markets. Here big apples yvere required, while, in England, the consumers preferred the "marble" sorts—2s inches to 2& inches. Later, in discussing the advisability, of conducting a big fruit advertising campaign ' during the coming season, several members declared that to-day there were not the consumers of fruit that there were some years ago. Mr T. Armstrong said that, even if New Zealand did not export one case, there was not too much fruit. The reason for a glut was that there were not the consumers there ought to be. With this view, Mr H. E. Morgan concurred, stating that the long and short of the matter was that people did not want to buy anything that would debar them & om 801516 . P !eas |ure. For instance, there, was very little, jammaking done during * he Christmas jmd New Year holidays, those were over several kinds cz fruit had

gone to waste, and were not left in sufficient quantities to meet demands. The" value of a persistent advertising campaign was stressed by other members as a means of bringing the marketing of local fruit before the public and suggestions as to. means of raising funds for such a purpose were brought forward. However, after a lengthy debate no decision was reached.