AMERICAN APPLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 16, 21 January 1919, Page 8

AMERICAN APPLES

THE MUKURA’S SHIPMENT. RETURN TO AUCKLAND. EFFECT ON LOCAL MARKET* The disposal of the shipment of American applet which the Makura is bringing back from Sydney is expected to have a somewhat seriojis effect on the local fruit market, says Friday’s Auckland Herald. This shipment, totalling 14,360 cases of Jonathan apples, of which 8000 were intended for Auckland and the remainder for other parts of New Zealand, was brought from Vancouver by the Makura at the end of November last, and under ordinary circumstances should have been placed on .the local market in time for the Christmas season. As a. rule, at that period the local apples held in cold storage from the previous season are exhausted, and the imported! apples supply the market until the new crop is available. Owing, however, to the quarantininq of the Makura on her arrival the shipment could not be landed, and the apples were carried on to Australia in the vessel’s cool stores. Cable advicesJast night sated that the liner was expected to leave for New Zealand at once t and, as the local fruit auctioneers have received no adlvice of the apples having been landed in Sydney, although an attempt was made to have this done, it is presumed that the shipment will be discharged here. Early this month, when. the disease known as “black spot” was reported to have made its appearance in local orchards-, rendiering a quantiy of fruit useless, it was thought that the Makura’s apples would save the market, but, as local apples are now reported to be coming in more plentifully, the position is likely to be reversed. Wholesale fruit dealers report that Gravensteins are reaching the market in quite good condition, and that Asrakhans should come in more freely within the next two weeks. Prices at present are by no means high, owing, it is stated, to the fact that local retailers are not buying freely. The effect of the Makura’s shipment on the market depends largely on the condition of the apples when they are landed, but it is not expected that they will sell at anything like their landed cost. Several auctioneers expressed the opinion yesterday that these apples will hold the market for at least two or three weeks, to the detriment of all local fruit, particularly apples. It is now proposed to dispose of the whole shipment in Auckland, as it is considered the fruit would not stand much further handling after 10 weeks in cool storage on the vessel.