EXPORT OF FRUIT LOWER THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18057, 18 January 1927, Page 13

EXPORT OF FRUIT LOWER THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

AUCKLAND HAS ONLY 2-STHS OF EARLIER QUOTA. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, January 17. Less than 20,000 cases of apples and pears will be exported from Auckland this year, or onl} r two-fifths of last year’s quota. In this respect Auckland is suffering in common with the rest of the Dominion (outside Nelson) an exceedingly poor fruit season, especially for pip varieties. According to a Press Association telegram from Nelson, Mr T. C. Brash, chairman of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, said itj was estimated that some 500,000 cases of apples would be exported from New Zealand during the coming season, of which at least 440,000 would come from Nelson. The statement was referred to Mr 11. S. Izard, Auckland representative on the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, as last season’s export totalled 750,000 cases, of which Auckland alone contributed over 50,000. His reply was to the effect that although Mr Brash’s figures were only an approximation, and subsequent information would modify his conclusions, the report was an accurate indication of the trend of the season’s export figures. The facts as stated by Mr Izard are somewhat startling and certainly suggest an element of uncertainty in the fruitgrowing industry. The season before last Auckland exported abot.it 18,000 cases. Last year a big push for export business was made and applications for space for 40,000 cases were handed in. These proved insufficient. As the season advanced fruit came forward from all quarters in unexpected quantities, and all up to the export standard. The 40,000 limit had to be extended, and ultimately 55,000 cases were sent from this province. As a matter of fact, probably the 00,000 mark would have been reached had not shipping space presented a problem that caused the Government to cry a halt This season the total bookings so far are 8258 cases of apples and 1000 of pears for Great Britain and 6700 cases for South America. In other parts of the Dominion, apart from Nelson, a similar story is told. “Practically nothing will come from Canterbury this year,” said Mr Izard, “and Poverty Bay, which burst into the export business last season with a creditable offering, has none this season. Hawke’s Bay has been badly smacked up with hailstorms and Central Otago has suffered badly with mildew. “Last season the unexpectedly large dimensions of the apple crop proved an embarrassment to the Government as the difficulty of finding additional shipping space at short notice was a serious one. Still more was it an embarrassment at the marketing end. The American crop was a large one and was in competition with Australian and New Zealand consignments for an unusually lengthy period. Prices slumped and there were heavy losses on most shipments. These had to be borne by the New Zealand taxpaj-er, as the Government had guaranteed the grower one penny per lb at the orchard. From all appearances the Government’s liability this 3-ear will not be nearly as large,” concluded Mr Izard.