First export of Central apples

In all 4496 boxes of apples were consigned from Beaumont at the beginning of the week for shipment per SS Cornwall, for London. Of these 1750 boxes are from Roxburgh, where they were packed in a central packing shed. These are being shipped through the National Mortgage and Agency Co (Dunedin), while the others are going through Thomas BossWalker, of Hobart. The packing, locally, was under the supervision of a local committee, assisted by the Government instructor, Mr Goodman, and the packing and handling staff, as well as material, was supplied by it, the cost to be divided pro rata among the shippers. The fruit was mechanically graded, and though the packers did not possess a great deal of experience in packing for export, their output after the first day was quite up to the standard of experienced packers and the duty of the inspecting officer was very light. Quite as much interest is being centred in the cost of packing the consignment as in its ultimate result, as it will afford a practical demonstration of the cost of operating a central packing shed.