APPLE SEASON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 11

APPLE SEASON

LONDON CEREMONY i AN AMUSING ADDRESS ACTIVE ADVERTISING. LONDON, April 15. l in previous years an official opening T of the New Zealand apple season, m London, has given excellent publicity to the trade, mainly througn the distribution of popular photographs. Last Friday, Mrs. Stanley Baldwin was invited to do the hoours of the opening ceremony and pose for the usual photograph. Not only did she do this part well, but she managed to give an amusing and philosophical discourse on the subject of apples. None of the distinguished people who have been invited previously to open the season have managed .to soar above the strictly practical. About a hundred New Zealanders, representatives of New Zealand firms, Uovent Garden merchants, and members of the Pi css, had been invited, and a large proportion of that number was present. In the Entrance Hall of New Zealand House an attractive display of apples was arranged against a background of New Zealand liags. lhe fruit was distributed in a score of large ornamental gilt baskets and sevcral opened cases. Flowers and palms set off the fruit, and attractive posters proclaimed the quality of the produce. Mrs. Baldwin was accompanied by Lady Wilford. The High Commissioner, in welcoming Mrs. Baldwin, said that seven years ago New Zealand sent to this country 200,000 cases. This year the Dominion was sending 1.500,000 cases. * If The Garden of Eden. Mrs. Baldwin said she had the greatest pleasure in opening the show ot New Zealand apples. Not only was she always pleased to do anything to help her own country, but to help the Dominions as well. With her family, she came from an apple county —Worcester —but, unlike her family, she preferred to peel her apples and not eat the peel, and core, and all. She was not an authority upon apples, but there were one or two things she could say about them. Apple blossoms, in the first place, were one of the most beautiful things in the world. Secondly, 1 sho believed apples belonged to the

genus feminine, aud for several reasons. ju the Garden of Eden the most desirable thing was the apple. The man picked it aud blamed the woman, and thus we had the first cad. Then, there was the apple of discord, surely feminine. In our every-day life the apple was the maid-of-all work, and the most useful of all the guests of the orchard. Sho was used for the goose and the duck, to help out His Majesty. She took her part at the homely dinner table. She appeared in full round figure in the apple dumpling, she allowed herself to be disfigured in the apple fritter, and for the schoolboy she was content to be a turnip. 4 ‘l think,” continued Mrs. Baldwin, “of all dishes set at a dinner table the one that most appeals to the males is the apple-pie, so I venture to claim for the apple that for these reasons it belongs to the genus feminine. Ths French seem to have realised this, for is not pomme feminine and poire masculine? If a group of people are seated at a table the average man will ehoose an apple, and the average woman will choose a pear.” Mrs. Baldwin concluded by expressing her pleasure in being present to open the New Zealand apple-season and the present exhibition. Photograph Goes the Rounds. Sir Thomas Wilford presented her with a basket of apples, and Mr. J. L. Brown presented Lady Wilford with a basket. The four of them then posed fur a photograph, each of them holding an apple in readiness for the first bite. The photographs have appeared m a large number of newspapers, and the public are thus made aware that the time has come When they must ask their greengrocers for New Zealand apples. Each of the company was presented with a sample bag of Cox’s, and a number of them went up to the High Commissioner’s room for further refreshment.

Here, Sir Thomas Wilford took the opportunity of reviewing New Zealand trade in this country. Among other things, he emphasised the need for having in Wellington a representative of the Fruit Board who knew the conditions and difficulties of the Empire and Continental fruit markets and who could act quickly and accurately« in response to communications from th| London agent. A really vigorous campaign advertising is now being carried on. Many of the huge double-deck London omnibuses bear an advertisement along their sides. On the left end of the

streamer is a bunch of rosy apples; on the right the New Zealand Ensign. The inscription reads: “New Zealand Apples—They Have the Home Flavour. 9 9 New posters and streamers for retail shops have now been printed. The inscription and the figures are the same as those on the omnibuses, but on a different scale. An interesting little toy which will appeal to children and carry its message is a small balloon painted to represent an apple. It is attached to a wooden tube to form a stalk, and there are two green leaves. When the balloon is inflated it is very realistic, and the printing leaves no doubt that it is meant to remind people that New Zealand apples are now available. These will bo given away at all the exhibitions.

In the principal show window of New Zealand House a new exhibit may be seen to-day. Dunn’s and Cox’s are arranged in two lots of 12 cases. The edges of the cases are lined with gold, and the rest of the window space has a carpet of green “grass.” The central portion of the window contains gilt baskets laden with apples. “New Zealand presents her 1932 Yield” is the inscription on a central placard.