FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20906, 13 July 1933, Page 11

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER.

OVERSEAS FRUIT TRAFFIC. MEAT IMPORTS CONTROL. (FiiOil OU it Si'KCIAL CoKKESt'OXDEN T.) LONDON, June 8. If reports are to be relied upon of a likely Home fruit shortage owing to blight in the Midland and South of England orchards, then imported fruit this year should meet a good season. Apples and pears from Australia and New Zealand are arriving in remarkably good condition, and one shipment of pears in particular from New South Wales, said to be the largest individual shipment from that state, has occasioned considerable comment. The shipment, which was carried in the Port Bowen, comprised 12,400 cases for discharge at Hull, 11,400 for London, and about 2000 cases for discharge at Hamburg. More than 30 different brands were represented in me consignment, and the varieties of pears included Buerre Bosc, Winter Cole, Packham's Triumph, Winter Bartlett, Howell, and Eeurre d'Anjou. The fruit was carried in the forward 'tween decks at a temperature of 31-33 degs, Fahr., and especial care was taken in the stowing and arrangement of the dunnage to ensure efficient air circulation among the cargo, part of which had been precooted. Tfle shipment had been arranged by Mr H. V. Smith, general jnanager of the Bartlow Packing Society, Ltd. The pears were packed in bushel cases, 18 inches long, 101 inches deep, and Hi inches wide, inside measurements. There was a keen demand lor the fruit, which was in excellent condition on arrival. News has been received in London, by the way, that « record season for grapes from New South Wales is likely to be experienced, and Covent Garden is interested jn this report. The largest percentage of the grapes will probably consist of the Chanez variety, which stands up jwnarkaWy we U to COQ I storage when carefully packed in cork in cases containing Dominion RecordsAccording to a statement of the Empire Marketing Board, more than 20 records were broken last year in the quantities of Empire goods imported Into Great Britain. Eggs from Australia rose from 9,000,000 dozen in 1931 to 15,QQ0.000 dozen in 1932. Bananas from the British West Indies rose from just lesa than 7,000,000 bunches in 1931 to more than 10,500,000 bunches in 1932. Other records include pears from New which have been more than doubled and now total 40,000 cwt, and frozen larob from New Zealand. Riaks of Apple Cargoes. Reserved judgment has been delivered in the Hull County Court in an action of considerable interest to fruit exporters. Apples were shipped in casep from Australia to Hull and, being found damaged on arrival, the White Star Line, as carriers, were sued by the importers on the ground that they had „ failed in their duty by not delivering * tte fruit in good order and condition. The defendants contended that the U'ifne:- tur s in which the fruit was stored, as registered in the were such as would not have been prejudicial to the fruit had it been shipped in a sound condition. They pleaded, in fact, on the evidence of expert witnesses that the apples suffered damage through their own inherent vice The judge first disposed of an allegation regarding seaworthiness and said that he was not prepared to hold that the compartment in quests was unfit for the carriage ofapplcs and that, in his opinion, the method of taking temperatures was adequate. According to the scrap log, however, the temperatures which the owners instructions had provided for were not maintained, for they varied considerably. He decided, after careful consideration of the evidence, thst the damaged apples were . s ? u " t impvpn Shipped, but were carried at uneven temperatures, which constituted fail-vj-e to exercise due care in the custody of the cargo, and was responsible for the damage which resulted. He held that the plaintiffs' claim must succeed, <nd gave judgment for them. Meat Imports. Uneasiness is very acute in the home rieat trade concerning the probable effects "of the new quotas which are due to come into force in September, when supplies of imported meat to the United Kingdom market will oe still further curtailed. The retailers hold to the idea that many of the big whole*ale firms controlling chains of letail establishments might divert the but* •f their supplies to their own chops, thus reducing very considerably the quantity of meat pitched on the open market. While it is a debatable as to whether these fears are justified, it is interesting to note that an association has been formed in London oi wholesalers. Their new body, termed the Chilled Beef Importers' Association, la und® r *tood to have been formed to protect the interests of firms, not directly connected with any frigonnco or meat works abroad, importing chilled beef. It is reported that behind the association's formation is the fear that the smaller wholesale concerns may he kept short of supplies by reason of the larger ftrma owning and controlling frogorificos, being liable to five first consideration to their own wholesale establishments in Londqn and other leading market centres. Whether any or all of these fears wil be justified may be a moot point, but tfce fact remains that this uneaginegs is raving a big effect upon the home meat trade as a whole, retailers buying on a "hand-to-mouth" scale. . Hefrjyeration ' n New Zealand. Members of the British Association Of Refrigeration have learnt w, tn great interest and satisfaction of the inauguration of a national refrigeration institute in the Dominion under th<? title of the New Zealand Association of Refrigeration. At home, toe Parent institution of the British refrigerating industry has stood as a vital, impelling force behind all the progress made in recent years in the preservation of perishable foodstuffs and in the science of handling and transporting these commodities. The frequent gathering together of the leading M. Wlrit* of the industry, under the aegis of the association, has resulted in an interchange of ideas and experiences beaeflflisl to all concerned. The refrigerationists at Home will watch the subsequent ptOgress of the New Zealand Association with an interest every whit as keen as that accorded its inception. POULTRY AND EGGS. WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. . G. fj, s* B clfortl, Ltd., 118 Tl>» m street. thijt eooil yardings of poultry came »»rw»rd for tho week's murkeU. AH clasps birds ready for the table j n ke'-'n Mild supplies »re not (sufficient » ( ; r requirement* of the truile. Thero is » distinct Bhortatfu of good turkeys Minjf hetis. follewin# price* were realised Table sbicke)), iigbt i>» 64 to Q* ,ic l' l |ei > v ! l3S to 88 8(1; hens, light 3s to ss, heavies to 7g 9d; duck«. 4s (id to 0s fid: turkeys, ■«» Re to llis, gobblers 15s to ii» llt . Jm*—Our prices are: i'irfcts Is sr( 't %