APPLE EXPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16500, 18 November 1927, Page 11

APPLE EXPORT

WHAT ENGLAND WANTS TASMANIAN MERCHANT'S OPINION Mr. E. Ross, a director of IT. .Tones and Co., Ltd., Hob'art, is at present on a short visit to Nelson, and has been discussing with some of. the prominent growers in the Nelson district problems associated with the apple export trade. Mr. Ross has just refufhed from an extended visit to Great Britain and the Continent, where he had a 'full opportunity of studying the conditions of trade and the future outlook of the apple business. He mad? the return journey via the United States and Canada, and has been spending a little time in New Zealand before going on to Tasmania. Mr. Ross, who has had over 20 years' experience in the fruit trade, was primarily interested in Watching the sale of, Tasmtuiian apples in Great Britain and Europe, but had tho opportunity of seeing several New Zealand cargoes being landed in England and also the disposal of the apples in tho salerooms. Subsequently lie expressed the opinion that New Zealand apples had gained a very good reputation on the English markets, the New Zealand Jonathan being, lie thought, of exceptionally line quality, not always, perhaps, as highly colored as West Australian Jonathans, but of better apple characteristics as regards flavor and the ability of the fruit to retain its condition longer from the time of discharge at the docks in England. He predicts a good future for the Jonathan, and also for the New Zealand Rokewoods, which he found in England was in considerable favor, due, he thought, to its firm condition and the weigh tincss of the apple itself. After referring to the trade between Australia and England, Mr. Ross referred to New Zealand, stating that he considered f.o.b. sales would extend the industry. He also suggested that growers would be enabled to create a goodwill for their brand's if their names or registered marks (as the cases may be) wore shown on the boxes, as was the custom in Tasmania. The prohibition of export of small apples was, in his opinion, a disadvantage to New Zealand growers. There was a large market in London, at any rate, for small apples of colored varieties, and the price usually is a fair one. He found Sfinch. apples brought higher values/than 2J and 3inch. The latter should be shipped to North England ports. He thought the grade brands shown on the boxes were of little importance, because the buyers examined " the sample cases and arrived at their own ideas of the quality and value of the fruit. lii view of the difference of opinion existing among growers as to their right to select their own brokers in England, Mr. Ross was asked what system was adopted in Australia. " "Under our system in Tlohart," he replied, "every grower has freedom of action in the selection of his selling broker. The. growers in some instances select the ports to which they will ship their different sizes and varieties of apples." The business in Tasmania had been built up on the principle that each grower maintained his individuality.