EXPORT OF FRUIT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 20

EXPORT OF FRUIT.

RECORD FIGURES. WELLINGTON, February 4. Growers’ bookings of shipping space with the New Zealand Fruit Control Board indicate that the total exports of fruit from the Dominion this season will constitute a new record. They are as follow: Auckland 96,025 cases, Poverty Bay 21,100, 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; Sturmers, 66,000 cases; and Delicious, 54,000 cases. There are increases in all varieties, except Staymans. Winesaps, and London Pippins, which are practically the same as last year. There is a probabality 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. Nelson’s 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 the “ control,” will provide from 80,000 to 100,000 cases of fruit for shipment over-

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 sari 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 tine weather continues the arrivals of apples during the next few weeks will be very heavy. Shipping

space, allotments so far arranged are as follow: —Ship Tainui, sailing February 12, destination London, 9000 cases; Rangitane, March 1, Southampton, 23,000; Karamea, March (>, 15,000; Tamaroa, March 12, London, 315,000; Cumberland, March 13, London, 23,500; Port Brisbane March 27, London, 14,000. The Tamaroa’s shipment will include 4000 cases of pears. It is probable that portion of the Karamea's shipment including 3000 cases from Auckland, will be landed at London.

The Fruit Control Board is arranging this year for larger shipments to Liverpool and Glasgow, but London will 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 of

Europe, 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 Hastings and Poverty Bay growers have voted in favour of a fruit export pool, the idea being that every grower shall receive the same price for each variety and made.