NEW ZEALAND APPLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20882, 26 May 1931, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND APPLES.

LONDON SEASON OPENED. SPEECH BY MRS. SNOWDEN. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, April 17.

Mrs. Philip Snowden officially opened .tho Now Zealand applo season on April 14, at New Zealand House, in tho presence of tho High Commissioner and Lady Wilford, and of many people representing tho Dominion's business interests. Field-Marshal Sir W. Birdwood was a guest.

Tho fruit display was attractively arranged in beribboned baskets. Tho varieties shown were Cox's Orange, Dunns, Alfristons, Jonathans and Worcester Peannains. 1

Sir Thomas Wilford explained that the fruit on exhibition did not exhaust tho varieties grown in New Zealand, but tho limited number of kinds shown was duo to the fact that tho season was still very early. Six years ago the Dominion's export to Great Britain reached 230,000 cases; in 1929 the million mark was attained; in 1930 one and a-half million cases arrived, and it was hoped in a very short time to reach the 2,000,000 mark. ilrs. Snowden said that as she left home her husband whispered to her: "New Zealand apples are famous." Sho knew that because sho had eaten New Zealand apples in New Zealand; and so had her husband. They had been to many countries of the Empire, and had gathered pleasant memories, but to nono did their memory turn with greater warmth and interest than to New Zealand. Her husband had remarked: "If only we were twenty years of ago instead of (laughter), wo would certainly try to have oursclyes accepted as citizens!" "We aro not only concerned in promoting the sale of this choice fruity during the coming year," said Mrs. Snowden, "for 1 sincerely liopo that you will reach tho height of your ambition and reach the 2,000,000 mark. But that is not the only implication of this occasion. I shall look upon it as one more means of making our two peoples better known to one another."

Speeches were also made by Sir William Bird wood and Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P.