FRUIT FOR EMPIRE

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 12

FRUIT FOR EMPIRE

CO-OPERATION AND PREFERENCE [Per United Press Association.] NELSON, Juno 12. Commenting on the Imperial Economic Committee’s fruit report. Sir Heury _ Jones of the Henry Jones Cooperative Co., Hobart, who is at present visiting Nelson, said that preference was a fine thing for the dominions, but he did not think voluntary preference would be much good. The principle was all right, but was not suf J ficiently concrete to get us .very far. Sir Henry did not think private preference either would accomplish much. “ It would be,’’ ho added, “ a great thing for England if we could get preference on both sides. The only possible far-reaching policy is a co-opera-tive one, baaed on mutual preference.” Sir Henry, who is evidently a firm believer in trading within the Empire, went on to say that if properly developed the dominions and colonies could grow sufficient fruit to meet all of Great Britain's requirements, and the work of production could easily absorb the million of unemployed at present on the dole in England. Let the unemployed emigrate and they could help to grow all the produce that the United Kingdom could absorb.

“ Your apple crop in Nelson last season,” said Sir Henry, “ was about 660,000 cases—a very small proportion of the total trade. Even the whole of your dominion crop would bo a quite negligible quantity. You have almost unlimited opportunities for expansion if you can ho assured of a profitable export market. We load this season forty-two ships in Tasmania with 2.200,000. cases of applos. This is nothing to what we could do if encouraged with preference. I shall bo very gla-d if I can co-operate with your growers and association to promote the welfare of the exporters to the Home market, either by effecting straight-out sales to buyers in England or making reasonable advances against all consignments on growers’ account. I pioneered this industry in Tasmania-, and am well acquainted with all the requirements of the Homo market. 1 see no reason why arrangements could not be made for direct loading from Nelson. I understand it would be necessary to deepen the harbor entrance, but this could be inquired into later, and should not present any insuperable difficulties.”

In Tasmania, added Sir Henry, apples were not pre-cooled prior to shipment. As a rule they were packed and shipped within a week of being picked.