FRESH FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 17

FRESH FRUIT

•VALUE TO HEALTH

THE ECONOMIC ASPECT.

MARKETING PROBLEM

i (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON; April ».- "Bread used to be regarded as the staff of life. .Today, it is estimated : that bread does riot form more than one-fifth'of the dietary of our poorestcitizens. We regard it as a substantial element, of course, but more and more people are beginning to realise the maximum value to health of the protective foods, and in that regard fresh fruit and vegetables bulk very. large," said Mr. W.;S. Morrison, Mm- . ister of Agriculture, at the annual dinner of the National Federation of Fruit and Potato Trades Limited. He added that as this fact became more widely recognised; fresh fruit and vegetables would take an increasing part in the dietary of the people, and' he urged that the-most .scrupulous attention should bk paid to the quality of English products.,. . Referring to the improvement that had taken place already, Mr. Morrison recalled that English ,:fruit used to be the least well packed of any placed on the market. Today that defect had been remedied to a 'great extent, and it,'was refreshing -to think- that last year a considerable quantity of English fruit had been exported abroad. ;■ Two guests: at the dinner, \yho wer« given a welcome by Mr.7 G. T. Clark, temporary . president : -:,of the,; federation, were Mr. W. TNash, New.-Zea-land Minister of Finance, and Mr. W. J. Jordan, New. Zealand High Com' missioner. "I would say to Mr. Nash that the members of the federation hold close to their heart the subject which calls for his immediate attention," Mr. Clark said. "The fruit market is naturally bur greatest concern, and in order that our friends across the water and -.ourselves should understand each other it is to our interest and benefit that we should have the closest possible-contact." •.-■■ "A GREAT HUMAN QUESTION." 'Mr. S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia, who replied to-the toast of the guests with Mr. Nash, remarked with a twirikle in his eye: "This is one of those fortunate occasions when New Zealand,and Australia are hunting in couples;in the most completely . amicable relationship and not, as they very often do, brawling amongst themselves." . ■•;.'.' Taking what he'described as 7"a * shot" -at Mr. Morrison, Mr. Bruce suggested that a greater restriction should be placed on theimportation of American and other foreigri apples, during the Australian, and New Zealand, season. He recalled that in recent years the Dominions had limited' the quantity of fruit exported to.England, andhe ' asked whether it was riot-a,"bit of a tragedy" . that suchy limitation should . be imposed, since, nutritional research had proved that fruit and vegetables were; the two best protective foods; If the people of England could receive the greater .quantities of fruit and vegetables that were available :. the standard of living would be improved* Such a suggestion might be visionary, but at the same time it was a hard fact..-"";., y/y * "■:.,. AS yy By better nutrition a tremendous amount of good could be done for the health, of the [people, "and it .was pos-' sible to do more today than ever in the . paist. "Surely," said Mr. Bruce, "we are going to have the-wit to find ways and. means whereby these necessary articles of diet can be brought to the people's benefit. It is a great human question, something that can bring.untold benefit to millions of our fellowcitizens throughout, the world." 7 Mr. Nash, reminded his.audience that' there was. no country more British than New Zealand, and said.that he (entirely agreed with, the views % expressed by Mr. Bruce. Far greater quantities .of apples could be consumed in Great Britain if the - people were to take the : advice of "An. apple ..a;' day"; 7 "I have been in England about four months now, and ;Tmu'sy't say that I have been profoundly astonished arid - pleased at the profound respect that the Old Country, its people, and the members of its Government have for the people of New Zealand," Mr. Nash continued. "I myself am a fifty-fifty man, for I was born in the Old.Country, and I have lived half my life in New Zealand. I know how New Zealand lives, and I kriow how the Old Country lives.

7 "There ought not", to.'be anyone in the Old Country short of the things that money can enable'them to buy if there are means which can enable them to have access to those things. We ought not to Tet our orchards lie idle while fruit is needed in England. New Zealand wants to do all'the things that can be done to make the Commonwealth of Nations 7an example ta the .world."