9 Dec, 1907.] The Fruit Ex-port Trade. 723 



and delivering, as well as of inspection, everything passed off without a 

 hitch and in no instance did any delay occur. The bulk of the products 

 which came under my notice was of good quality, well packed, and put 

 up in conformity with the regulations. The most noticeable fault was the 

 over-use of packing material in the cases. Some of the most successful 

 exporters use no packing whatever, a plan which I consider very good. 

 The inspection of jams and fruits in liquid occupies a great deal of the 

 time of the staff. This work is mostly performed at the various jam 

 factories, &:c. The method of inspection is as follows : — The oflficer opens 

 samples promiscuously to see that no fermentation is present, the cans con- 

 taining the goods are closely inspected for leakages and also weighed to see 

 that they are of the weight specified on the label. No samples have been 

 submitted for analysis as a standard has not been provided for these goods 

 in the regulations. I am of opinion that if such were done the quality 

 of these products would be benefited and the work of the inspectors 

 strengthened. I think also that provision should be made for grading 

 green fruits and that a scale of classification should be included in the 

 regulations. The work allotted me in assisting you in the supervision 

 of the duties of the staff has been rendered lighter than it would otherwise 

 have been owing to the willingness of all the officers to carry out their 

 duties promptly with as great a regard to the interests of trade as is 

 consonant with the performance of strict duty." 



Inspector Cleland : — " I beg to report, regarding my work under the 

 Commerce Act, that although this measure was an entirely new departure 

 and was viewed with alarm in many quarters prior to its inception little 

 or no friction has occurred between the exporters and the officers of this 

 Branch, despite the fact that this has been the heaviest export season to 

 date. All the apples and pears which were exported beyond the Com- 

 monwealth were, with few exceptions, of excellent quality and of the full 

 weight and size as required by the regulations. Our work was rendered 

 much heavier owing to the additional duties which we were called upon to 

 perform in measuring and weighing cases and in checking trade descriptions. 

 Although the new Fruit Cases Act did not come into operation sufficientlv 

 early in the season to influence the export trade in a legal sense, most 

 of the exporters put up their products in compliance with its provisions and 

 used the cases specified in the schedules of that measure." 



Inspector Mallett : — " I beg to report that from the ist October 1906 

 I have been engaged on the examination of shipments of fresh, dried, and 

 canned fruits for export under the Commerce Act. The fresh fruits, with 

 few exceptions, were of a very high grade and mostly free from disease. 

 The principal disease noted in those apples which were rejected was 

 'bitter-pit.' Some of the exporters however, have a good deal to learn 

 as to the general ' get-up ' of the cases. Some of these are constructed 

 of rough timber with paper labels pasted on them with the details written 

 in pencil or ink. These labels are liable to be washed or blown off and 

 would suggest that the ' trade description ' be neatlv stencilled on in future. 

 I have noticed also that in connexion with the export trade to New Zealand 

 the use of second-hand cases is very prevalent. ' Manv of these cases are 

 so black with use and old age that the brands are scarcely visible. This 

 is a very reprehensible practice, but its continuance should cease with the 

 application of tlie provisions of the new Fruit Cases Act. Regarding the 

 fruit, I notice there is room for improvement in the grading and packing, 

 some cases being packed very looselv." 



