APPLES SENT OVERSEAS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 9

APPLES SENT OVERSEAS.

AUCKLAND SHIPS NEARLY 5000

CASES. DOAIINION EXPORTS INCREASED. FROM 112,860 CASES TO OVER 150,000. For tho first time Auckland is prominent this season in tho fruit export returns (reports the Auckland Star). According to

the figures supplied by Air J. W. Collard, orchard instructor of the Agricultural Department. Auckland has sent away no less than 4725 cases of apples during the present export season between April 12th and the 6th of the present month. Of that number 165 cases went to London, 636 to Montevideo, and 3923 to Honolulu. The largest shipments by one boat were 1533 cases by the Niagara to Honolulu on Alay 7th, and 1474 cases to the same port by the Alakura on June 6th. The Alontevideo market has filled a most useful gap this year, and the Honolulu market has been a great stand-by, though it. is a very particular market, the American authorities being very strict regarding insect pests. About 700 cases had to be rejected owing to mealy bug and red mite. The packing in Auckland this year lias been very good, blit the high standard set by the export regulations has not been fully recognised, and this is a pity, as it is only by establishing for our fruit the same high standard, and the recognised standard, that lias given New. Zealand butter such a name on the English market that the trade can hope to flourish. New Zealand's total export of fruit for tho present reason shows a big advance upon -the last season’s figures, r.o less than 150,358 cases of apples having been sent away —most of them to the London market —as against 112,860 cases in 1922. In order of quantity shipped this season Auckland stands fifth, the figures for the various exporting provinces being:—Nelson, 97.647 cases; Otago. 15.041; Hawke's Bay. 10.328; AVairarapa, 7402; Auckland, 4725: Marlborough, 4625; and Canterbury. 490. As stated, most of the dominion’s export of apples went to tlio London market, probably not more than 30,000 cases going to South America, and about 4000 to Honolulu. There still remains much to be done to put the growing fruit industry on a sounder basis, and it is generally recognised that the co-operative principles that did so much for the dairying industry will have to be adopted by the oroha relists. The matter has been discussed for a number of years, and will again come up at the forthcoming dominion conference in Wellington, when it si hoped a. progressive step will be taken by the delegates in furthering this much-to-be-desired object.