DOMINION FRUIT EXPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 7

DOMINION FRUIT EXPORTS

THE PRICES NOT SATISFACTORY.

HOPE FOR LATER IMPROVEMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, April 16. The Australian and New Zealand fruit season opened under somewhat unfavourable conditions. Prices cannot be regarded as satisfactory. The main reason is the competition of American apples, for the market is flooded with American apples in excellent condition and selling very cheaply. Unfortunately, too, the quality of Tasmanian and Victorian apples is not so good as it ought to be. Many are immature and some varieties are showing considerable pit. The quality of West Australian, South Australian and New Zealand apples generally is excellent, but prices for these are also affected by the competition of Newtons. The market for pears has been much better. They are meeting a steadily improving demand with prices tending upwards. There is a fair quantity of South African pears here, but American supplies are exhausted. Prospects of the apple market in the near future are not regarded as good as American supplies will be plentiful for several weeks, but importers are hopeful of au improvement later. Imports of foreign cherries, strawberries and other soft fruits are likely to be much lighter than hitheido owing to the imposition of duty. The Board of Trade returns again furnish gratifying evidence of an increasing demand for Australian wines, although the total importations of wine from foreign countries in March was only 621,712 gallons, compared with 1,104,615 gallons in the previous March. Wines from the British Empire rose from 292,968 gallons in March, 1931, to 508,041 gallons this year, Australia being chiefly responsible with an increase from 216,327 gallons to 390,137 gallons.