732
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 23

(3.) There may be used in conjunction with the prescribed particulars a design or other particulars.

7. If the application for registration of an export brand is in order, and if in his opinion the use of such export brand is not likely to lead to mistakes or confusion, the Director shall register such export brand, and shall notify the applicant in writing accordingly.

8. No person shall use any export brand unless and until he has been notified by the Director in writing that it has been registered.

9. No person shall alter, by addition, deletion, or in any other way, the non-variable particulars of a registered export brand without the consent of the Director first had and obtained in writing.

10. The Director may at any time, after giving one month’s notice in writing to the owner thereof, cancel the registration of any export brand if satisfied that it has not been used during the preceding two years in connection with the export of fruit.

GRADES OF FRUIT.

11. The following are the grades of fruit which may be exported from the Dominion :—

Extra Fancy Grade,
Fancy Grade ;

and the words “ Extra Fancy ” and “ Fancy ” shall be known as and are herein referred to as “ grade-marks.”

APPLES.

12. The following are the standards by which the grade of apples shall be determined :—

Extra Fancy Grade.—Apples of this grade shall be of not less size than 2¼ in., sound, smooth, and clean. They shall be mature, well formed, hand-picked, true to name, and free from disease, spray injury, visible bitter-pit, skin-puncture or skin broken at stem, and other defects. Very slightly blemished apples may be included in this grade, provided that not more than 8 per cent. of the total number in any one package are so blemished. The individual apples of solid red and striped or partial red varieties shall carry not less than 75 per cent. and 50 per cent. respectively of good typical colour. The individual apples of yellow or green varieties shall be of good characteristic colour.

Fancy Grade.—Apples of this grade shall be of not less size than 2¼ in., sound, smooth, and clean. They shall be mature, well formed, hand-picked, true to name, and free from disease, visible bitter-pit, skin-puncture or skin broken at stem, and other defects. Slightly blemished apples may be included in this grade, provided that no individual apple shall have more than 5 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. Apples affected by spray injury may also be included in this grade, provided that no individual apple shall have more than 5 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. The individual apples of solid red and striped or partial red varieties shall carry not less than 50 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively of good typical colour. The individual apples of yellow or green varieties shall be of good characteristic colour.

13. (1.) No apples shall be deemed to fall in either of the above grades if, notwithstanding that in other respects they conform to the standards set out, they have been taken from trees which have been planted out in the orchard less than seven years, and no such apples shall be exported.

(2.) If an Inspector examining fruit for export as hereinafter provided has reason to doubt whether any apples submitted for examination are from trees which have been planted out in the orchard at least seven years, he may require the owner of such apples to furnish a statutory declaration that they are from such trees.

PEARS.

14. The following are the standards by which the grade of pears shall be determined :—

Extra Fancy Grade.—Pears of this grade shall be of not less size than 2 in. if pyriform in shape and 2¼ in. if round in shape. They shall be clean, sound, clear-skinned, and of bright appearance. They shall be mature, well formed, hand-picked, true to name, and free from disease, spray injury, skin-puncture or skin broken at stem, and other defects. Very slightly blemished pears may be included in this grade, provided that not more than 8 per cent. of the total number in any one package are so blemished.

Fancy Grade.—Pears of this grade shall be of not less size than 2 in. if pyriform in shape and 2¼ in. if round in shape. They shall be clean, sound, mature, well formed, hand-picked, true to name, and free from disease, skin-puncture or skin broken at stem, and other defects. Slightly blemished pears may be included in this grade, provided that no individual pear shall have more than 5 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. Pears affected by spray injury may be included in this grade, provided that no individual pear shall have more than 20 per cent. of its surface affected thereby. Pears having characteristic russeting shall not be deemed to be unfit for inclusion in this grade.

PEACHES.

15. The following are the standards by which the grade of peaches shall be determined :—

Extra Fancy Grade.—Peaches of this grade shall be of not less size than 2½ in., well formed, true to name, free from disease and blemish, and exceptionally well coloured according to variety.

Fancy Grade.—Peaches of this grade shall be of not less size than 2½ in., well formed, true to name, free from disease and blemish, and of good colour according to variety.

PACKING OF FRUIT.

16. Prior to being placed in packages fruit shall be sized, and only fruit of as nearly as possible the same size shall be packed together in a package.

17. In sizing fruit in any particular size for the purpose of packing a variation of not more than ¼ in. above the size in question will be allowed ; but no fruit shall be included in a package which is of less size than that set out in the owner’s registered export brand hereinbefore required to be branded on such package.

18. Fruit of one grade only shall be packed in each package :

Provided that fruit of different grades may be contained in the same package if the grade-mark to be placed on the package as hereinafter prescribed is that of the lower grade of fruit contained in such package :

Provided further that nothing in this clause shall be construed to authorize the packing-together in one package of fruit of different kinds or of different varieties of the same kind of fruit.

19. (1.) All fruit for export shall be properly wrapped in new paper having one or both surfaces glazed or in some other paper approved by the Director.

(2.) Not more than two papers shall be wrapped round any one fruit.

20. (1.) Wood-wool or corrugated strawboard shall be placed at the top and bottom of each case or tray in which the fruit is packed, but in such quantities only as shall be necessary for the protection of the contents.

(2.) If in his opinion the quantity of wood-wool or corrugated strawboard used is excessive, the Inspector may reject the package for export until the matter has been remedied.

21. All fruit for export shall be properly packed on the diagonal or pocket pack system.

22. All fruit for export must be packed in clean new packages, which must be properly constructed of well-seasoned timber.

23. The following are the types of packages which shall be used for the packing of fruit for export.

Apples.

(1.) Apples for export shall be packed in standard bushel cases.

Pears and Peaches.

(2.) Pears or peaches for export shall be packed in one of the following types of packages :—

(a.) A standard half-bushel case.

(b.) A package of three wooden trays strapped together, one above the other, each tray having an inside measurement of 11¾ in. by 19¾ in., with a depth of from 2¾ in. to 3 in. The straps shall be of wood ⅜ in. thick and 1½ in. wide, secured to the ends of the trays, two straps to each end and flush with the sides of the package thus formed. The timber used for the construction of trays shall be of the same thickness as that prescribed for the standard bushel case. The method of strapping the trays is shown in the diagram set out in the Second Schedule hereto.

BRANDING OF PACKAGES OF FRUIT.

24. Every package of fruit for export shall, before being sent to an appointed store for examination as hereinafter provided, be branded with the registered export brand of the owner of such fruit.

25. The particulars in the export brand placed on any package of fruit relating to the grade, size, number, or variety of such fruit shall accurately describe the contents of such package, provided that a variation of not more than five per package shall be allowed in the number of fruit stated to be in such package.

26. No other brand or mark shall be placed on any package of fruit to indicate the grade or quality of the contents