TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 149, 5 April 1933, Page 6

TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. POSITION REGARDING FRUIT. THE DELEGATION ANXIOUS. (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 4. Although members of the Australian trade delegation have arranged to leave Auckland on Friday on their return to Australia, it is possible that their plans will be altered in order to enable discussions with the New Zealand Government's representatives to continue. Australia is anxious to secure the removal of New Zealand's embai'go.on fruit and vegetables, which is stated to be causing a loss of over £3,000,000 a year to Australian exporters. New Zealand" has countered this with a suggestion that the embargo on New Zealand" potatoes entering Australia should be removed, and it is this proposal which is stated to be giving the Australian delegation the greatest concern. . Speaking at the Australian Society luncheon to-day, Senator Massy Greene said he had every hope that eventually they would be able to frame a new agreement, which would be for the mutual benefit of both countries. STATEMENT IN AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENT MUST DECIDE. CANBERRA, April 4. Mr J. G. Latham (Acting-Prime Minister), replying to a question in the House of Representatives to-day, said that although it was quite natural that New Zealand should desire the removal of the potato embargo, Senator Massy Greene had not entered into any agreement which would bind the Commonwealth Parliament. No agreement with the Dominion on any item covered by the tariff would be made without submission to Parliament. Mr Latham emphasised that the potato embargo was a quarantine restriction, which was among the subjects discussed at New Zealand. IMPORTATION OF POTATOES. TASMANIAN GROWERS QUESTION, (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. Following Mr Latham's statement in the House of Representatives, Mr Bell (Tasmania) asked if it was conceivable that potatoes from New Zealand would be admitted into Victoria while Victoria continued to impose an embargo against Tasnianian potatoes because of disease being prevalent, as was also the case in respect to New Zealand potatoes. Mr Latham said that the Government recognised the anomaly, and the matter was under consideration. MEETINGS OF PROTEST. LIFTING OF THE BAN OPPOSED. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) HOBART, This Day. There is strong resentment throughout the potato-growing districts of Tasmania at the action of the chairman of the Tasmanian Potato Marketing Board, in instructing the marketing officer at Sydney that the board is not opposed to the lifting of the embargo on New Zealand potatoes. Meetings have been held and a telegram of protest sent to the Prim© Minister.