SOUTH AFRICAN JAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 13

SOUTH AFRICAN JAMS.

IMPORTS' GREAT INCREASE.; QUESTION OF PROTECTION'. { LOCAL PRICES AFFECTED. '( New Zealand growers of stone and soft' fruits have some cause for uneasiness about the rapid rise in imports of South African jam. There is more than a possibility that a move mnv be made to secure an increase of the present British I preferential tariff on jam, which has stood for many years at 2d a lb. A shipment- of 4450 cases of South African jams was landed at Auckland from the steamer-Rarariga at tho end of March. The sudden development of the trade i.l illustrated in the following Doi minion figures of quantity and value: — Year. Lbs. £' 1925 .. nil. nil. - 1927 . . 148.432 '3,350 19'2S .. 409,000 10,000 (approx.) The New Zealand output of jams and jellies for 1926-27, the latest year for which figures are available, was 65,931cwt., or 7,384,2721b., . valued at £204,399. Other preserves brought the total production of tho factories up to £273,436. They used 3C97 tons of fruit, valued at £66,719. and £55,217 worth of sugar. It may be added that the 1928-29 production is believed to have been the average of several preceding years. A Good Product. Although South African jam does nofc bulk relatively very large, it is having a serious effect on the local market. The price of New Zealand jam in Auckland was lately reduced a 14oz. tin, wholesale, raspberry, strawberry and black currant excepted. Marmalade was re* duced £d. The season just closed was exceptionally good for soft fruits, and two of tlio principal factories, Kirkpatrick and Conn pnny, of Nelson, and Thompson and Hills, of Auckland, were able to accept; nearly all the fruit oifering. In Auckland this aggravated tho glut at the markets, and the loss of revenue to growers must have been heavy. These two factories are both controlled by Henry Jones Co-operative, Ltd., the great Australian organisation, which is also (irmly planted in South Africa. The fact, however, does not in any way abate their competition with the South African jam.] The latter is mainly pineapple, apricot, fig and peach. It is of excellent qualify, attractively labelled, and can be landed at a price which puts it on an equality with the local product. Indeed, it is said not to be subjected to price-cutting by retail grocers, as New 21ealand jam is. Coloured Labour Question. Why it can be landed here so cheaply is a matter for conjecture. It is believed that South Africa ha* had a run of several very good fruit seasons, and that New Zealand shipments represent surplus output. Whether or not the jam is being "dumped" in tho legal meaning of the term cannot be stated definitely without some knowledge of prices current in South Africa. Another factor is the strong probability that cheap native labour is used in the orchards or jam factories, or both. Exact information on this point is lacking. It is possible that the- reciprocal customs treaty with South Africa, which* dates from 1907, will be reconsidered before long, if oulv because it admits South' African dried apricots, free into New Zealand, while the Australian product pays duty. Replying to a fruitgrowers' deputation in January, the Minister of Agriculture,. the Hon. G. W. Forbes, said that he was trying to encourage the intensive cultivation of small areas of land. New *, Zealand should be able to grow all tha fruit it required, and ho felt that protection should be given to small industries. Possibly more will bo heard of the matter if, as is likely, tariff amendments are brought down next session.