GOOD FRUIT PROSPECTS

Evening Star, Issue 20019, 9 November 1928, Page 2

GOOD FRUIT PROSPECTS

NEW ZEALAND OH THE ENGLISH MARKET [Per United Press Association.] ' * NELSON, November 8. Mr H. E. Stephens, London representative of tho New Zealand bruit Control Board, is at present in the Nelson district addressing growers as to the result of the past season s operations. He stated that the depressed state of trade in Britain and the largely increased supplies had meant that high prices were out of the question. Still, New Zealand had secured from 2s to 3s a case more than the fruit from other countries. There would be practically no call on' the Government guarantee. The high standard of New Zealand grading was warmly commented on at Home. The prospects for next season, Mr Stephens considered, were brighter, owing mainly to the lighter Australian crop. He thought that probably the heavy American carry-over would not affect the market to a great extent, as the demand was always for fresh fruit. , _ . , , Speaking of the Fruit Control Board’s policy, which does not include price-fixing, and consists mainly in directing fruit to the best markets offering at tho moment, Mr Stephens said that representatives from other countries had been specially sent to examine New Zealand s policy. All admitted that tho board had instituted something new and something which was working extremely well. Two outstanding facts were that the growers had been given legislative control of their own business, and had a Government guarantee which enabled them to maintain the principle of independence. All were agreed that the Government guarantee had made the Control Board’s policy possible. The Prince of Wales sent greetings to New Zealand growers when presented with the millionth export case last season. ■ ' ,