TRADE OF BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 7

TRADE OF BRITAIN.

FIGURES FOR LAST MONTH.

SMALL DECREASE IN EXPORTS

Australian nnd N.Z. Press Association. (Received October 13, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 11

The Board of Trade returns for September show that tlio value of imports in the month was £98,371,000, an increase of £10,690,000 compared with September lust year. Tlio value of exports was £55,104,000, a decrease of £1,515,000. Tlio re-exports were valued at £6,736,000, a decrease of £119,000.

The principal increases were:—lmports: Grain and flour, £2,620,000; non-dutiable food and drink, £922,000; wood and timber, £1,446.000; rubber, £1,153,000. Exports: Coal, £1,148,000. Tho chief decreases were:—Exports: Cotton yarns and manufactures, £1,641,000; vehicles, £1,352,000. Following is a comparison of the returns for tho first nine months of ,tliis year and last year:— 1928. 1929. •Imports .. £880,001,000 £850.285,000 Exports . . 534,953,000 ' 530,913,000 He-exports . . 91,551,000 88,347,000 Total exports . £626,504,000 £619,200,000 The apparent adverse balance of trade is £231.025,000, compared with £259,497,000 last year. NEW ZEALAND APPLES. THE GERMAN MARKET. AN UNFORTUNATE SHIPMENT. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, September G. Mr. 11. E. Stephens, London representative of the New Zealand Fruit Board, lias . returned from a business lour of South Germany. New Zealand's growing interest in tho German market is necessary, for the great quantity of large apples which are produced in the Dominion cannot find a. market, in Great Britain. With a view to developing this Continental trade, Mr. Stephtfns will remain in England this coming winter, instead of returning to New Zealand. In this latest (rip to Germany Mr. Stephens had a special mission to perform. The Norfolk shipment of apples was a failure and a great deal of harm had been done among the retailors in South Germany. It is stated that the damage was done before the fruit left New Zealand. Tho endorsement to tho bill of lading signified that (lie apples were affected with green mould, mouldy core, bitter pit, black rot; that the Jonathans and Delicious were fully matured.

On the arrival of the, Norfolk at London 48,000 cases of apples were landed. Some cases that were sold quickly made as much as 20s. As soon as the cold got out, of tho fruit, however, it began to break up rapidly and a load of trouble followed. Much of the fruit was got rid of for as low as 2s a case. Much was destroyed.

Some 11,000 cases of theso Norfolk apples were destined for Germany. Halfway through the, unloading operations Mr. Stephens realised the seriousness of the trouble, though the fruit appeared to be. all right when cold and fresh from tho hold. Barges were alongside the Norfolk, however, to take off the fruit for Germany and space had been taken on tho steamer for Rotterdam. Tho fruit went to Holland. The board's agent thero distributed it . throughout South Germany. By thn tirno it got to tho retailors it had wanned up and all the latent troubles were apparent. Mr. Stephens travelled with his agent up the Rhine towns and through the Ruhr district. He visited all the buyers who had handled the bad fruit and explained the circumstances of the case. He pointed out that the trouble had occurred in New Zealand; that it .was a rare thing to happen and that steps had been taken to prevent a recurrence of such a thing. "Fortunately," said Mr. Stephens, "we had later apples over there in really good condition, so that I could prove that the Norfolk calamity was not owing to the shipment being a late one. The effect of the Norfolk trouble was easily seen, for men who had previously taken 100 to 5U cases were taking only five or six cases of the thoroughly sound later fruit. Nevertheless, we "hre getting back their confidence and I am satisfied we shall have a good trade over there." Needless to say, there were no high prices for the Norfolk fruit in Germany. At all the hotels at which Mr. Stephens and his agent stayed, except one, they found New Zealand apples on the table —mainly Stunners. None of the hotels had any warning of Mr. Stephens' visit.

AUSTRALIAN WOOL INDUSTRY

EFFORT TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS

Australian and N.Z. Press Association. BRISBANE, Oct. 12,

In tho course of a discussion on the Estimates in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, the Premier, Mr. A. E. Moore, alluded to the serious position of tho wool industry. Ho expressed the hope that an Empire-wide marketing scheme for wool would be evolved, bringing in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Mr. Moore said' he recognised that no scheme of organised marketing could be forced upon the Australian pastoralists, but ho was now in communication with the graziers' associations throughout tho Commonwealth and with the Federal Ministry. Ho had suggested that this problem should bo taken up without delay in order to try to put tho wool industry on its foot again.

DAIRY PRODUCE PRICES.

LONDON MARKET VALUES,

A. H. Turnhull and Company have received the following cablegram from W. Wcddol and Co., Ltd., London, dated October 11:—Butler: Danish, 194s to 200s. New Zealand, unsaltcd, 186s to 190s; salted, 179s to 184s; market qnict. Cheese: New Zealand, white, 94s to 955; coloured, 93s to 945; market quiet. Canadian, white, 95s to 975; coloured, 94s to 965. Newton King, Ltd., have received tie following cablegram from R. and \\. Davidson, Ltd., London, dated Oclojwr 11:—Butter: Market quiet: salted, li9s to 184s; iinsaUcd, 18os lo 190s; wheys, firsts, 170s; seconds, 1665. Cheese: Market quiet; coloured, 93s lo 945; white, 94s to 955.

GUARANTEED FRUIT-CANNING.

STATE AID IN VICTORIA

How primary industries arc assisted in Australia at the public risk m oulei to encourage export trade is illustrated by the Victorian Governments action lo cuarantco co-operative packers to the amount of £40,000. "I have been informed that tho cost of producing canned fruits at all tho co-operative canneries is now greatly reduced, and is reaching a stable and payable basis, ■ said the ictorian Premier recently. Following an undertaking by him to keep members informed on guarantees given by tho Goveminent for primary industries the Premier said Cabinet had dealt with an application by a preserving company for permission to obtain from the Commonwealth Bank a further sum not exr ceding £40,000. Tho security was part of the coming season's crop. Ho said this amount did not involve an addition to the existing trading guarantee on behalf of the company, which amounted to £205,000.