Inter-Empire Trade

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6836, 18 April 1932, Page 7

Inter-Empire Trade

OVERSEAS FRUIT IN LONDON TARIFFS HELP AUSTRALIAN WINE DRIVE TO CAPTURE ELECTRICAL MARKET United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. Received Sunday, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, April 16. The Australian-New Zealand fruitseason opened under somewhat depressing conditions and prices cannot be regarded as satisfactory. The main reason is the competition of American apples, for tho market is flooded with Hood River, Oregon, Newtons, Washingtons and Winesaps in excellent condition and selling very cheaply. Unfortunately, too, the quality of Tasmanian and Victorian apples is not so good as it ought to be. Many are immature and some varieties are showing considerable pit. The quality of West Australian, South Australian and New Zealand generally is excellent, but prices for these also were affected by the competition of Newtons. The market for pears has been much better and they arc meeting a steady improving demand with prices tending upwards. There is a fair quantity of South African pears here, but American supplies, are exhausted. The prospects of tho apple market in the near future are not regarded as .good as American supplies will bo plentiful for several weeks, but importers aro hopeful of an improvement later. Imports of foreign cherries, strawberries and other soft fruits are likely to be much lighter than hitherto owing to the imposition of the duty.

The Board of Trade returns again furnish gratifying evidence of the increasing demand for Australian wines. Although the total importations of wine from foreign countries in March were only 021,712 gallons compared with 1,104,61 ;► the previous March, wines from the British Empire rose from 292,96 Sin March 1931, to 508,041 this year, Australia being chiefly responsible with an increase from 216,327 to 390,137 gallons.

The British ’electric equipment, industry is making a bold bid to extend its overeas trade. The Evening Standard states that the British Electrical Allied Manufacturers' Association is working out a complete detailed scheme for Imperial co-opera-tion, which will be discussed at Ottawa. The scheme will cover Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India and will contain suggestions for tho exchange of research and patent experience, plotting statistical information, exchange of engineers and similar rationalising measures. British equipment firms are also making a drive on the South American market which hitherto has been largely in the hands of Americans, Swiss and German firms.