LARGE FRUIT EXPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 13

LARGE FRUIT EXPORTS.

RECORD YEAR INDICATED.

VERY HEAVY BOOKINGS.

STEAMERS FROM NEW ZEALAND.

[BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

The bookings by growers of shipping space with the New Zealand Fruit Control Board indicate that the total exports of fruit from New Zealand this season will constitute a new record. The bookings are as follows.—Auckland, 96,025 cases; Poverty Bay, 21,160; Hastings, 242,385; Wairarapa, 19.220; Nelson, 742,620; Marlborough, 50,200; Canterbury, 900; total, 1,172.510. This total includes 1,116,748 cases of apples and 55,762 cases of pears. The bulk of the pears, 34,865 cases, have been booked by Hastings growers, and increased bookings have been made from Nelson. Of the apples, the bookings show heavy increases in Jonathans, amounting to 76,000 cases; Sturmer3, 66,000 cases; and Delicious, 54,000 cases. There are increases in all varieties except Stayman's Winesaps and London Pippins, which are practically the same as last year. There is a probability that the total of 1,172,510 cases will be brought up to at least 1,250,000 cases by additional shipments from Nelson and Poverty Bay. The Nelson exports this year will probably exceed 750,000 cases. In addition to the bookings under the Control Board, it is expected that the Otago growers, who are outside "control," will provide from 80,000 to 100,000 cases of fruit for shipment overseas. The 1928 season's exports, which constitute the present record, totalled 1,019,137 cases of apples and pears, including 80,000 from Otago. Last year's shipments were 989,709 cases, including 87,900 from Otago. This year's exports of apples will start with 'a shipment of 9000 cases for London in the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Tainui, which is to sail from Wellington on February 12. Already several hundred cases have arrived in cool store at Wellington, and about 1400 cases of Gravensteins are being railed from Auckland this week. The season is slightly earlier this year than usual, and if fine weather continues the arrivals of apples during the next few weeks will bo very heavy. The Fruit Control Board is arranging this year for larger shipments to Liverpool and Glasgow, but London will still receive equal to or more than last year. In other words, the surplus crop this season will be distributed in outside markets, and not dumped wholly in London. It is expected that shipments to South America this season will total 160,000 cases. Already 157,000 cases have been sold to the Continent, and if negotiations now proceeding are successful this market will receive up to 200,000 cases. The board is also arranging to sell pears in the Continental market. It is stated that the Hastings and Poverty Bay growers have voted in favour of a fruit export pool, the idea being that every grower shall receive the same pvicg for each variety and grade.