APPLES FROM CANADA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1919, Page 6

APPLES FROM CANADA

A BELATEDM3HIPMENT

HEAVY LOSS INVOLVED,

A consignment of 14,350 cases of apples, which were over-carried by the steamer -Maker a to Sydney /early in December last, was brought back to Auckland by the same vessel late on Monday night, and unloading operations were commenced yesterday, says Wednesday’s Auckland Herald. The fruit, which is comprised principally of two varieties—Jonathan and Mclntosh Bed ,was slapped at Vancouver early _in November, and under ordinary circumstances would have been on the local market for the Christmas trade. _ However, Auckland was just recovering from the epidemic of influenza, and as the vessel had sickness on board, it was quarantined for some days, after which it proceeded on its voyage to Sydney without unloading any cargo at this port. The delay has resulted in a very serious financial losg to both the shippers and to the Auckland buyers, for not only has the Christmas trade been missed, but the fruit has also deteriorated by reason of the protracted delay. Of the shipment, about 6000' cases are on consignment from Canadian dealers, the othe r 8000 cases being sent to the order of local buyers, .Bought at 17:s 6d per case, it is estimated that had CEe fruit been placet! on the Auckland market at the schedule time it would have realised from 22s 6d to 24s per case, instead of 6s to 10s, the prices realised at auction yesterday. These s™®? r llre P Prese t a loss of about £BOOO, which falls upon the buyers at this end an!T the shippers of the consignment stocks at the other. ■The placing of such a large - "stock of fruit on the local market at the present time will also seriously affect the prospects of local growers, whose stocks are just coming to hand.