FRUIT EXPORT TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 106, 8 May 1933, Page 10

FRUIT EXPORT TRADE

CONTROL BOARD REPORT.

THE MARKETING PROBLEM ..] "Evening Post," May 8. Revenue and other income received by the New Zealand' .Fruit Export Control Board during 1032-33 by way of the levy of lUd per case amounted to £8271 3s Id; rents received in London were £58 6s Bd, and these sums, with the balance from the previous season, £654 8s 3d, amount to £8983 18s. Expenditure in Wellington was £3999 lls 7d, and in London £4678 , 15s lOd. The sum of £303 10s 7d is pro- i yided by way "of adjustment of the pre- | vious year's • travelling expenses of the London representative. Whilst realising that the reduction of the levy from l%d per case to IVid might result in a loss, the board decided to make the reduction in order to assist the exporters. The levy for 1933 was fixed at 1 3-8 d per case. Referring to the Government guarantee, ihe board states that this now amounts to 30s 6d per Case on "extra, fancy" and "fancy" grades, a reducti6n of 6d per case. The "guarantee of 7s per ease on i"good" grade was unchanged. Fruit exported to' South America is not covered by the guarantee. Since 1931 the Government guarantee has been twice reduced. EFFECTS OF HIGH EXCHANGE. With the increase of New Zealand exchange on London from 10 per cent, to 23----per cent., the guarantee is" proportionately diminished, thus making the.. finance of ehipments more difficult. Further difficulty arises through an increase in ifreight rates consequent on the increase in exchange, i.e., 132-3 per cent., or .approximately 6d per case. "Nevertheless, the increase of exchange rates will mean an appreciable increase iii growers' net returns and be of immense benefit in assisting growers through the present period of poor prices," states the report. The previous cash advance of 4s pel fcase has been reduced to 3s 3d per case. .The guarantee conditions include the payment of lHd per case to a central fund established to meet guarantee claims. Last year's fund amounted to £9391 5s 6d, but ■was barely sufficient to meet all claims. The portion the Government will be asked to meet would.be approximately £1343, equivalent "to approximately l-5d per case ever the season's export crop. DIVERSIFIED MARKETS. The British market is the mainstay of the New Zealand, fruit export trade. Shipments of apples were 1,183,748 cases to the United Kingdom, 216.215 cases to the Continent, 47,159 to Canada, and 55,565 to South America. Shipments of pears were 88,523 cases to the United 'Kingdom (less 21,127 cases retained for the local markets) and 6209 cases for the Continent. Apple varieties which predominated in the export returns were Stunners, Delicious, Jonathans, and Dunns. Delicious were the principal variety exported to the Continent, South America, and Canada. Great difficulties were met with in respect to the Continental and South American trades, attributable to the international crisis, to limitation of imports by France, exchange obstacles in South America. Direct consignments of fruit to Holland, Germany, and France will depend mainly < upon the development of political and "economic conditions in those countries. Hopes are entertained of an improved position in the Canadian market. The markets of the East have of recent years become of increasing importance. The Fruit Board, in conjunction with the other produce boards, conferred with the Government on the. possibility of increasing 'New Zealand's trade to those markets by obtaining shipping facilities, and this , matter is still under consideration. But from information received the present trade, and the prospects of the immediate future do not offer much encouragement for the introduction of a regular direct shipping service. In any case it. would probably take several years to reach a turnover of 15,000 or 20,000 cases. Most of these Eastern countries, have ample supplies of native fruits, and only in rave instances do apples and pears sell at prices which Xew Zealand growers would consider as payable. DISTRICT PRODUCTION. Latest export returns from various districts are given as follows: —Auckland, 180,119 cases; Poverty Bay, 23,543; Hawke's Bay. 299,088; Wairarapa, 18,889; Wangamii, 1470; Marlborough, 60,101; Nelson, 991,729; Canterbury, 13,118; Otago, 29.302; total, 1,617,419 cases. In addition, 04,480 cases of pears were contributed " from various districts. Destinations of fruit were as follows:— London, 935,525 cases; Southampton, 185,748; Liverpool, 82,833; Glasgow, 75,768; Manchester, 50,564; Avonmouth, 26,731; Continental ports, 168,888; Halifax (Nova Scotia), 15,167; South American ports, £0,834.