NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 130, 5 June 1925, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

■>— 10 THB' EDITOR. Sir, —In a recent issue of a- Southern! newspaper I read an article on the prices that New Zealand apples are- retailed ati in England. According to the article,small apples that weigh eight to tha pound sell at threepence to sixpence each! If New Zealand fruitgrowers reaped the benefit of these prices, it is possible that they would feel very pleased with their returns, but unfortu-i nately the profits go to the host of middlemen who stand between the growers and the consumers. Much the same happens with our dairyproduce. If the New Zealand cheese factories were to manufacture cheese in. small sizes, say ten to twelve pounds in: weight, and put it up in an attractive carton, there is no doubt that a good publicity campaign in England would induce people to ask for and be sure of getting the New Zealand article. This would stimulate the demand for New; Zealand dairy produce. About two years ago, the-New Zealand .Meat Producers' Board of Control advertised in the Dominion that any person in ISiew Zealand could, by sending- 33s to the board, have a. New Zealand lamb delivered anywhere in the United Kingdom, so that it would be' received fn time for Christmas or Easter. I understand that there was a srood response, ' and that New Zealand lamb was introduced into many homes in Great Britain where perhaps it was previously used as English lamb. I, personally, have had letters from friends in England commenting on the prime quality of our New Zealand. article, arid verr favourably comparing it with'the Homeproduced lamb. ' • ". '" '." "V . Now. if a demand can be stimulated . in Great Britain for New Zealand lamb,why cannot the same methods be employed to brine producers of our fruit and dairy produce into direct communication with the consumer? If the Dairy Produce Board, the Fruitgrowers' Association, and the'-Honev Producers' Association were to jointly embark on an. advertising campaign I am sure there ore many people.residing m iSew Zealand who 'would'be' pleased to send 20s or 30s to the. associated boards, and have a'case of New Zealand apples or.a hamper or case containing a small New Zealand cheese, say loib oy 121b of New Zealand butter, 'and a' tm of New Zealand honey, delivered to a relative ov friend in the United Kingdom in time for either Christmas or Eastei\ The recipients of the New Zealand gifts would surely out of courtesy sample them, and once having overcome the prejudice against the imported Colonial article you would in many cases have secured permanent customers for the. New Zealand goods, if the prices were right. ■ ' I put forward these suggestions fop • what they might be worth, in the hope ' that there are some ■ members of the boards with sufficient initiative to taka the matter up and give it ■ a trial.—l am, eto., HERBERT DfGRAM, .Lawrence, Otago. . .