DOMINION FRUIT TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 18

DOMINION FRUIT TRADE

PROSPECTS FOR BETTER EXPORT PRICES A hopeful outlook for the next few years at least for New Zealand fruit in Great Britain was anticipated by Mr A. L. Burke, representative of J. and H. Goodwins, Limited, of London, when speaking to a meeting of Hawke’s Bay fruit growers. _ “Indications definitely point to a continuation for several years to come of the industrial, prosperity that is now being enjoyed in tjie United Kingdom,” said Mr Burke. “With the levelling up of prices of commodities, fruit will benefit to the extent that there will be a reasonable rise, although not a big or spectacular rise.”

Mr Burke said he did not expect any big rise in prices, but he thought growers could look forward to a general improvement. Fruit prices would become in more correct economic relationship to those of other commodities.

It might be possible to help growers to some extent by developing trade with Brazil, continued Mr Burke. During the past two or three years some 25,000 cases of delicious apples had been exported to that country. Now that delicious apples were available in greater quantities, a bigger order might be placed there. Also last year a shipment had been made to France for the first time for a number of years, and it was possible this might be repeated in even greater quantities this year. There was hope also that Germany might open her doors this year and provide another outlet. A hint that, although prices might rise in the United Knigdom, it was quite possible that brokers, who so far had shouldered increases in dock costs during the past 12 months, might be compelled to pass this and other increased costs on to the growers, was given by Mr Burke.