NEW APPLE SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22719, 4 May 1937, Page 8

NEW APPLE SEASON

CEREMONY IN LONDON LORD BLEDISLOE'S COMMENT [from our own* correspondent] LONDON, April 17 " Practically every section of New Zealand life." to use the words of Mr. W. Nash, Minister of Marketing, was present at New Zealand House this week, when the new apple season was declared open by Mrs. W. J. Jordan, wife of the High Commissioner. Among the large gathering was Lord Bledisloe. Mrs. Jordan, who was presented with a basket of apples by Mr. H. Turner, London manager of the New Zealand Fruit Board, recounted the work entailed in placing the fruit on the English market, and urged housewives always to be sure that they bought New Zealand apples. " I am told, on more or less good authority, that this is a finer display than has ever been seen in this building at the'opening of the season," said Lord Bledisloe. " I have heard that sort of thing before. (Laughter.) But I am quite prepared to believe it."- He added: " I will say that this display of Cox's Orange Pippins is as good as you have ever had on these occasions.

" These premises," continued Lord Bledisloe, "are all too small for such gatherings as these, and out of all proportion to the growing importance of New Zealand as part of the British Empire. I am hoping that the enterprise of the present Government will extend itself in the direction of more suitably equipping London with a proper centre for New Zealand .activities in this country." 1 In the course of three days, said Lord Bledisloe, he had found himself looking at New Zealand bacon, pork and apples, and he could not help feeling tempted to preach the gospel which he had preached for so many years past: that although quality was of enormous importance, if it was desired to command the pampered Home market, uniformity was of more importance to secure that market and to hold it against all comers. The bacon seen at Smith'field excellent, but the pork was not so impressive. Yet the experts declared that New Zealand could command the best possible market both for bacon and, pork if they were more careful, about feeding. The same thing applied to apples. a Mr. Nash drew attention to the colouring of the apples, and said that it reminded him of the railwav slogan, "Green to green and red to reel, perfect safety, go ahead." Mr, Jordan caused laughter by replying that'green "and red applied not only to apples and railways, but also to politics. He, added, with a smile, "Some of us aro a little too green and red as well."