NEW ZEALAND APPLES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 31 August 1928, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND APPLES

THE MILLIONTH CASE PRESENT TO THE PRINCE f; -'■s (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 27th July. A case of Stunner apples is after all just a case of apples, but when tho case is the millionth to go on board ! a Home-bound steamer from New Zealand it takes on a greater importance than the 999,999 th ease, or the 1,000,0015t case. At any rate, this box of New Zealand apples by the Tainaroa had had special attention. At one end was inscribed a list of figures showing the cases sent to England in years from 1908 to 1928. In the former year 1236 cases were exported; in tho latter 1,018,000. At the other end of tho caso woro the words: "With loyal greetings from the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Association. "At the sido of. the caso, in large letters, wero the words: "New Zealand's millionth case." On Friday morning of last week the case was exhibited_ in the show window of'the High' Commissioner's Office. It was surrounded by a very fine display of other varieties in ornamental gilt baskets—Dohertys, Rokewoods, Stunners, arid Ncwtowris. A card, indicated that the-case was to be prcsentpd to H.E.H. the Prince of Wales. For such an important box of apples a certain amount of pomp and .ceremony was excusable. Photographers from London newspapers took pictures of the High Commissioner and Mr. H. E. Stephens conforring over the box, and afterwards a picture "of it being placed in the High Commissioner's car at the front-door of New Zealand House. The High Commissioner had an appointment with the Prince at mid-day. ACCEPTANCE OP THE GIFT. Speaking subsequently of his reception at St. James's Palace, the High Commissioner said, as evidence of tho keen interest the Royal Family took m the King's Dominions, the Prince of Wales, in the midst of a busy day, found time to receive him in order to accept personally from him the millionth case of apples from the Dominion. „ Tho Prince chatted with the High Commissioner and Mr. Stephens for quite twenty minutes. He had the caso opened in his sitting-room, closely examined the apples, and asked many questions about fruit-growing in Now Zealand. He was interested in' the grading of the fruit, and remarked that it was weir packed. When the Prince was informed that while the fruit here was sold at Gd or 7d a lb,.the fruitgrowers in New Zealand received about a penny a lb, he expressed surprise. Mr.' Stephens explained the many different handlings that are necessary, as well as the cost of packing and the freight charges. Sir James PaTr further, stated that tho Co vent Garden • merchants and the country distributors, as well as the retailers, all had to "make their 'profit. The retailer had his story to tell or. damage in tho packing, a wasting commodity, as well as heavy rents, so that somehow he managed to got the price up to 6d or 7d a lb. "It was a most difficult problem," said the High Commissioner, "and both tho Government and tho Fruit Control Board were engaged in an endeavour to get more for the growers."' i "The Prince asked why the fruit was 1 inclined to bo on the small side. It was explained that the English i market required, for. West End. dessert ! purposes, a regulation small-sized cles--1 sert apple, and that it was no use trying -to sell one of a'larger size than 2$ inches. While, as for the man in the street,1 he would find it too expensive if every member of his family had a lartje apple each. Tinally, the Prince of Wales expressed the hopo that tho ex-Service men, in whom he takes tho keenest interest, were making a fair living in the Dominion.