NEW ZEALAND FRUIT TRADE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 51, 1 March 1913, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FRUIT TRADE

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S ENQUIRIES (FROM OUB OWN CORBESPONEBNT.I LONDON. 17th January. The Hon. T. Mackenzie has been making enquiries regarding the prospects of New Zealand fruit in the English market, arid on going through some of the retail shops he found that the main reason why the last shipments were not success- | fnl was because of the irregular grading. A shopmen showed him how the cases opened out by comparing apples of varions sizes with carefully graded American apples, and after he had put these various i sized apples together, he said: "That is the sort of grading New Zealand has sent us." ' There is a splendid market in this country for New Zealand fruit, if it is properly ' handled, and in Mr. -Mackenzie's opinion there is absolutely no reason whatever why New Zealand fruit should not be landed in as good a condition as that coming from Tasmania. There must be something seriously wrong at present in connection with the handling. ' REPORT FROM MONTE VIDEO. While 4n Monte Video the High Commissioner made enquiries with regard to the market in Uruguay for New Zealand products, and the report of H.B.M. Vice* Consul in that city has now been re* ceived through the Commercial Intelli*" gence Branch of the Board of Trade. The report is as follows : — Apples.-— A good market, if delivered in good condition. The duty and landing charges amount to 20 cents (lOd) per case, and they are sold locally from 2 dollars 10 cents to 2 dollars 40 cents (8s lid to 10s 2d) per, case. New York pippins are preferred, as they keep well. Otliei marks imported are Jonathans, scarlet P.M., A.P.M.. S.P., and F.C.P. Fruit should not be sent* on consignment. Cases should be hooped td prevent pilfering in lighters at 'Monte Video. Pears.— Not recommended) as they go bad too quickly. Potatoes.— A good market, aa practically all the potatoes consumed in Uruguay are imported. These would give at an average £4 per ton, c.i.f,, or, say, £6 12s, after payment of All expenses— viz., duty £2 2s 6d, lighterage 6s sd, wharfage 3s. Potatoes should be packed in cases of 50 kilosj with a partition in the middle. Butter. — The market for butter is not i so good, and is practically confined to the months of May and July. The duty is high, amounting to about 42 centesimos (Is 9d) per kilo. Duty is charged on wrappers, but not on case. The retail price of butter in Monte Video varies from 1 dollar 20 cents to 1 dollar 50 cents per kilo (5s Id to 6s 4d).