NEW ZEALAND APPLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 17

NEW ZEALAND APPLES.

YORKSHIRE PROSPECTS. BRADFORD’S ENTHUSIASM. “FRUIT ABSOLUTELY BEYOND CRITICISM.” (From Oub Own Correspondent.) LONDON, Juno 2. By the Somerset, Mr W. V. Ambler, a loathing fruit salesman and commission agent in Bradford, received his first consignment this season of apples from New Zealand. Tile contents of all 434 boxes were in perfeet condition and were quickly cleared at the following prices;—Jonathans 19s, Dunns Fav. 18s fid, 19s, Scarlet N.P. 18s fid “The packers of this fruit,” says Mr Ambler, “axe to be heartily congratulated upon the excellency of their grading, packing, and quality, as customers quite unanimously agree they wore the acme of perfection, and not the slightest trace of waste was discovered amongst the whole parcel. The further consignments for Bradford by the Turakina, Tainui, and Argyllshire, are keenly looked for, but there will be a rather lengthy interval, and Mr Ambler is consequently unable in the meantime to meet his customers’ requirements, although, like Oliver, they are daily clamouring for “more.”

OUT TO ESTABLISH OONETDENCB. “This state of affairs,” he writes, “i» to be strongly deprecated, and I would urge the growesr to ship by every available voat next year, so that supplies will be avauable at this end throughout the season, and a consequent permanent trade built up by me in Bradford. As a wholesale merchant, I sell only to the retail shopkepeers —some in only a small way of business, whilst others are large multiple stores, but to all I extend the same service. Whether they are buyers of one box, or 50 boxes the price is just the same. By this method I encourage the small people to stock, push, and advertise the fruit, knowing that it is par excellence, and that they will have nothing to fear in the way of competition from their more prosperous and favourably placed competitor, “I am ambitious to build up a very extensive New Zealand fruit trade, to render the best possible service, to act always on tho square, and to establish that bond of friendship and mutual confidence so essential to successful trading, whilst no effort on my part will be too great in the hopes of obtaining the best possible prices. The growers who have already shipped to rne will be tho first to admit that the -experiment has proved an unqualified success ui ©very way, and even after making due allowances for the very small extra cost incurred by shipping direct to me, tho prices realised are tho best in England. IMPORTANCE OF ADVERTISING.

“I should like to offer my sincere thanks to all growers, packers, shippers, and friends in Now Zealand who have so materially assisted in bringing this experiment to such a successful issue, and can assure them that tho prospects for New Zealand fruit are extremely bright, and also that a groat future' is in store for them providing this high standard of grading and. packing is maintained. Let me compliment them upon their advertising, but not under any consideration must efforts in this direction be relaxed, but rather let it increase, so that tile slogan, “Eat more New Zealand fruit,” shall resound through the British Isles. ’* ‘Advertise, advertise, advertise,’ is my message to the New Zealand fruitgrowers. Your fruit is tho finest in the world, and a great future awaits you.” The best selling lines for Bradford, Mr Ambler tells me, are Cox’s Orange, Delicious, Jonathans, Scarlet Nonpareil, Newtowns, Dunn’s Favourites, Stunners, London Pippins. COMPARISON OF NET RETURNS.

The prices obtained for tho Somerset’s consignment should show a nett return to Now Zealand of 9d to is per case over London nett results.

Mr Ambler is “out for big things,” and, while ho anticipates that it may take a few years for the Now Zealand fruit trade to become completely established in Bradford, he has no anxiety of the ultimate result, as straightforward methods must •ultimately make good. The fmit is absolutely beyond criticism. Mr Ambler lavs claim to being tho pioneer of direct shipments of New Zealand fruit so fay as any inland town is concerned. Previously’, supplies were sold exclusively at tho port of arrival, and often did ho realise the great advantages to be gained to both grower and retailer by tho opening up of direct shipments and tho consequent saving of many Handling charges, etc., etc. In the hopes of reolisin this object, he accordingly worked very hard to obtain such direct supplies, but, of course, many obstacles had to bo overcome before any tentative shipments were consigned to his firm. ,