IN SEARCH OF MARKETS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16807, 21 November 1928, Page 10

IN SEARCH OF MARKETS

FOR NEW ZEALAND FRUIT ADPRESS TO ORCHARPJSTS The search fob.the best tnnrkots lor New Zealand fruit was outlined by Mr. 11. E. Stephens, overseas representative of the New Zealand Fruit Control Board, at a meeting of Poverty Bay ondiardists last night, and lie indicated what he had learned from past experience and thorough investigation, suggesting that the Continent and Scotland should he utilised more in the future. There was an attendance of about 20, M r. E. Kirk, president of the Poverty Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association. being in the chair.

The best si/.e.s for the London market, said Mr. Stephens, were from Ilk! to 210 per case, while 2,'M’s obtained approximately the same price. Of thy ontports, Bristol was one of the best: for New Zealand, whose apples worn the only ones going there direct thi* year. It was a good market, up to a certain quantity, and lie suggested that larger quantities should he sent, there. At Liverpool most of the fruit was sold to the Liverpool Fruit Exchange, which, however, rather restricted operations. Therefore, he had arranged to sell some of the fruit outside the exchange, and this resulted in better prices and lower charges,

At Alan Chester, there was a keen desire to establish a market outside Liverpool. It would be to New Zealand’s advantage to put larger* quail* titios into Manchester, provided the fruit could bo landed at Manchester e.v ship because the Manchester buyers were always suspicious of fruit that was railed to that city from Liverpool. There should he no difficulty in this respect with future shipments. WEST COAST PORTS

Glasgow was on’e of the most consistent markets in Great Britain, and oik; of the most neglected. Glasgow had an'objection to small apples. More New Zealand fruit should he sent tlit-re. . An endeavor should be made, however, to have the West Coast boats scheduled for the West Coast only, omittiiig London. At Newcastle the buying power was fairly restricted, aiid New- Zealand could not look upoi it as a good market, Small applet-., however, would sell fairly well. Hull was a fairly good market this year, though he thought New Zealand shipments had a certain amount of luck, the only two consignments arriving at blank periods. He was also doubtful of Hull returning the same good results oil account of Continental buyers failing to operate. Bradford and Birmingham did not compare too favorably with the port prices; those wore used only as a relief from the ports. CON TLX ENT AL M ARK ETS Germany and Holland were prosperous countries compared with England, he said, and there w;ere good market, prospects there. 1 He had visited the two countries, and found that they required .100’s t;o Lid's. He had send to Rotterdam 18,000 cases this year, mostly apples he could not place at a good price in England. Borne of the shipment showed a good deal of waste, but still it returned a profit of about ;!/- a ease more than English sales, despite the extra handling charges. German buyers were demanding direct shipment owing to the loss of condition by buying in London, and if New Zealand wished 1o do any future business with Germany this country must ship direct. At Hamburg, the chief German market, the prices were good fairly persistently, though at times there were some had slumps. He thought, therefore, that Rotterdam would be a better market. He considered that Australia would increase its Hamburg shipments, while he knew that large quantities of American apples were to be' sent there. These were factors which helped to influence him in favoring Rotterdam for next season’s Gorman shipments.

He also- visited Scandinavia, which, though not importing to the same extent as Holland and Germany, was a useful market. Rather a smaller apple was required, from 150's to 175's for Norway, and 163’s to 198’s for. the other two Scandinavian countries. Here, however, fruit would not 'be bought, on consignment. Western Australia had held this market in the past, but last season this, crop was not so good in quality, and that which they landed in the Continent this year disappointed the buyers, who lost money on it. If New Zealand were to put its fruit into this market, it would be preferred to the Western Australian

lie had arranged with the shipping companies trading with New Zealand to have boats available for the Cohtincnt at the Same, freight that was being paid lor London shipments. Rotterdam would suit the companies better than Hamburg.

The grading of apples to suit requirements was urged by Mr. Stephens who said that Auckland growers had scored by the establishment of a. pool. The fruit had been graded for market requirements and by such action the apples had sold much bettor than other New Zealand fruit. THE PEAR .MARKET The position with regard to pears had altered considerably in London of recent years. Looked upon a few years ago as a luxury, pears were now sold to a much larger extent. A few years ago pears were sold at so much apiece, 4d, 5d and even up to 9d each, but now they were sold at per lb. He recommended Hint, although they should still pack the large pears ui trays, they should pack the smaller ones in two half-bushel cases. The varieties liked at Home wore tin* Cornice, 'Winter Nelis, arid Josephine. The Hose was a well known pertr and buyers would pay a better price'for a well known fruit. In conclusion, .Mr. Stephens said brokers, and buyers wore well pleased with the New Zealand grading, which must not be lowered. “We have the good name now, and we must stick to it,” lie added. Bruising of fruit was nolicca ble, however, mostly on the Cox’s and Sttirmers and he suggest d wrapping corrugated cardboard -round the interior of the eases. The Statesman was very much in favor in England, hut cave must he taken, for (his variety would go bad quickly after bruising. Some difficulty had also boon experi-

enced with frosted fruit, but lie was able to say that the shipping companies had paid full for such fruit, aiicl- growers would receive the difference between the price actually realised and the sound market value.

Mr. W. Bennies, shipping supervisor at |Wellington, addressed the meeting with regard to tho marking and labelling of cases, and said that the gfqnp number for Gisborne this year would he 022. He described various sets of labels to lie used for shipment to "South America, the Continent and to England. He impressed .on growers that cases should be distinctly marked with the growers’ numbers. Mr. A. M. Robertson,' a ipember of the Shipping and Control Board and Jiawke’s Bay and I’overtv Bay representative on the Fruit Growers’ Federation, briefly addressed the meeting, saying that the South American market had bright prospects. I Tie speakers were thanked for the information they had given.