FRUIT REPORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 June 1926, Page 6

FRUIT REPORT

OF IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE VIEWS OF SIP. HENRY JONES Of particular interest to Nelson is the Imperial Economic. Committee’s fruit report appearing in the cable messages during the last day or two.. The receipt. of the report coincides with the arrival in Nelson of Sir Henry Jones, of Henry Jones, Co-operative Ltd., of Hobart, a large firm which has developed the fruit and canning business not only in Australia but in other parts of the Empire. Sir Henry’s views on the report are therefore of considerable interest, and in the course of an interview last evening with a Mail reporter, he spoke briefly on the subject. Sir Henry remarked at the outset 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 sufficiently concrete to get us very far. Sir Henry did not •think that private preference, either, would accomplish much. “It would be,” he added, “a great thing for England if we could get preference on both sides. The only possible far-reaching policy is a cooperative one based on mutual preference.” Sir Henry, who is evidently a firm believer in trailing within the Empire, went, on lo'say that if properly develop ed the dominions dud 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 die dole in England. Let the unemployed emigrate, and they could help.grow all the produce the United Kingdom could absorb. “Your apple crop in Nelson last season” went on Sir Henry, “was about 550,000 cases—a very, small proportion of the total trade. Even the whole of your Dominion crop would be quite., a negligible quantity, You have almost unlimited opportunities for expansion if you can be assured of a profitable export market. “We loaded this season 42 ships in Tasmania with 2,200,000 cases of apples Tliis is nothing to what we could do if encouraged with preference. “I will he very glad if I can co-oper-ate with vour growers and association to promote the welfare cf exporters to the Home market, .either by effecting straight out sales to the 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 Home market. I see no reason why arrangements could not. he made for direct loading from Nelson. I understand it would he necessary to deepen the harbour entrance, hut this could he inquired into later and should not present any insuperable difficulties. In Tasmania, it was slated, apples are not pre-cooled prior to shipment. As a rule they are packed and shipped within a week of being picked. Sir Henry Jones and party, who are staying at the Commercial Hotel, hit hv car this morning for the Mono fa district.