BIG POSSIBILITIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 13

BIG POSSIBILITIES

EXPORTATION 0E FRUIT

SURVEY OF MARKETS

After a survey of tho markets of Great Britain and Europe, Mr. J. L. Brown,'the chairman of the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board, is firmly convinced, that there is a good future for Dominion fruit overseas. Mr. Brown, who attended the freight conference in England and also made an investigation of markets, returned from England to-day by. the Tamaroa. Mr. Brown, said that he could not make any definite statements until he had met the board. . He was particularly impressed with the necessity for wider marketing on the Continent as well, as in England, and in this connection he. was going to put before tho board certain proposals which he hoped would not only improve the market.on the Continent, but also stabilise the English market. New Zealand fruit last season, with the exception of one shipment, arrived in England in excellent condition, and was favourably received on every. . market. Undoubtedly New Zealand apples were recognised as the standard for English markets, but the. position- could only be maintained by continually watching for and accepting any improvements. At the present time other countries were following just behind New Zealand, and were paying more attention to marketing than the Dominion had done. At the forefront of the present season a good price was obtained on the English market, but. low values ruled from half-way through the season until the end. Tins was due to the exceptionally large- quantities ' that were placed'on the English market from all over the -world. Australia, _ for instance, supplied' England with about 4,500,000 bushel cases, and in addition there were phenomenal crops of plums and strawberries in England and the Continent. Plums were selling at as low as Is 3d per 201b. "The future," said Mr. Brown, "may seem a little doubtful, but with proper marketing methods, and a wider distribution and control of various markets, I still think that fruit export will be a fine proposition?" . He said that at the freight conference he had been successful in obtaining an extension of the present contract for a further three years.