THE FIRST BITE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 7

THE FIRST BITE

NEW ZEALAND APPLES

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 27th March.

Two years ago an official opening of the season was an excellent advertisement for New Zealand apples. The Right Hon. L. S. Amery then attended ana took the first bite, and the picture of him performing this rite was published in very many newspapers throughout the country. It.,was difficult this year to find a Government 'official who could spare the time to perform the ceremony, but Mr. T. M..Wilford (Hxgh Commissioner) had an inspiration _ a few days ago, when he sat opposite Miss Ishbel Mac Donald at a dinner. Here was the lady who might perform the ceremony, and who also carried the prestige which.is.necessary to ensure publicity. Miss MaeDonald was pleased to accept the invitation. Yesterday morning,'a bright day of early spring, the entrance hall of New Zealand House presented a really fine picture. Selected Gravensteins, Worcesters, and Alfristonß, which had arrived by the Tainui, were most artistically arranged on a large stand. In the forefront were' a dozen cases of apples with the lids off. The top layers had been cleverly arranged so that the yellow.Gravensteins, the redWorcesters, and the deep green Alfristons formed a pattern. At the back were a dozen handsome baskets filled with chosen fruit: Flags and posters completed the decorations. A poster recently published was prominent. This shows an attractive woman draped in a New Zealand flag standing on a pavement of gorgeously red apples, and holding above her head another bright apple almost as big aa herself. At the top is the inscription:, "New Zealand Apples." At the bottom: "The Empire's Star Turn."