DOMINION FRUIT TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 20671, 18 December 1928, Page 2

DOMINION FRUIT TRADE

DIFFICULTIES OF TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA. POSSIBILITIES IN CANADA. It is a somewhat curious fact that one of the difficulties which presents itself in the efforts being made to extend the markets for the New Zealand fruit trade to South America is the fact that there is only one way shipping. If there was an even flow of shipping each way New Zealand would be able to obtain quite a number of commodities, including tropical fruits and other items which would be acceptable to the Dominion from the Argentine, Brazil and other places in South America. This phrase of the position was explained to a Dominion representative by Mr. W. T. Goodwin, Assistant Director of Horticulture, who recently returned from a business visit to South America, United States and Canada. “Trading vessels,” he said, “are always prepared to make the journey to England via South America if there is any cargo available, as the currents and winds are following and the passage is a comfortable one. They will not come to New Zealand that way because of the difficulty of making headway against the current and winds, and the vessels would be shipping water practically all the time. In these circumstances there is little or no return trade with New Zealand, otherwise this market for New Zealand fruit and other commodities could be developed considerably.” In Buenos Aires, if it were not for the language, mostly Spanish, said Mr. Goodwin, one might walk through the main street and imagine one was in Wellington so far as the manners and customs of the people were concerned. They were as nice a people to meet as in any part of the world. Hotels were rather expensive, but against that one had to admit that they gave excellent service and accommodation, as was the case in the United States. One paid five or six dollars a day for a room and for meals as required, but business men and tourists did not mind paying when the service was there. He thought New Zealand could make considerable progress alohg these lines.. If along our tourist routes first-class accommodation and service were given, a higher scale of charges would not meet with any objection. In all the big shops the firms had members of the staff who could speak English as well as Spanish, so that visitors sneaking • English only, need experience no difficulty in the matter of language. Canadian Market. It was probable, said Mr. Goodwin, that about 11,000 cases of fruit would again be sent to Canada this season, this being on a par with the quantity marketed in that country last year. It was hoped to be able to still further develop this market as time went on, as New Zealand fresh fruit arrived there when fruit from the United States was from cold storage and not fresh, otherwise New Zealand would not be able to compete in the'Canadian market at all.