CUSTOMS TARIFF REVISION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 80, 3 April 1906, Page 3

CUSTOMS TARIFF REVISION.

ACTION BY FRUEfGEOWERS.

At the annual meeting of the Birkenhead and Northcote Fruitgrowers' Association, held last' evening; a communication was read from Mr' W. A. Boucher, stating that—Mr Jaque>, Government cannery expert," "would attend a special meeting of the association early in May with reference to the proposed revision of the tariff on imported fruit. The following resolution was then moved by Mr J; G. Kay:— "That this meeting of Birkenhead and Northcote fruitgrowers, having in view the probability of the Customs tariff revision coming before Parliament during the forthcoming session, desires to give expression to an opinion thereon as follows: (1) That as the fruitgrowing industry in New Zealand-is already such an important one amongst trie many industries connected with the progress of land settlement, securing as it does a healthful occupation for a very large number of steady and industrious settlers, and conserving for circulation within its own borders and its own people a considerable value, estimated to approach £500,000 annually, we consider it to be the duty of the Government to continue to foster and encourage that industry by every reasonable means. (2) That the effect of the duty now levied upon imported green fruits has very largely assisted in that direction, as without such protection during the season of our own colony's heavy supply our markets would have become so glutted with fruit of very questionable grades of quality that the return would have been almost nil, and enormous quantities ■would have rotted in the orchards, thus depriving our own producers ni the power of expending at home what, under existing conditions, their returns have enabled them to. (3) That, reviewing the -whole question upon the foregoing lines, we now earnestly request the Government, when the question of tariff revision is entered upon, to allow the duties upon imported green fruits to remain as at present, ■with the added provision that imported lemons be placed upon the same rate of duty as plums, peaches, apricots, etc. And, further, having regard to the advance which viticulture has made in this colony during recent years, and the stringent measures which have been used to stamp out phylloxera, stopping further introduction foy prohibiting- the importation of grapes, also the experimental work done at the Government Agricultural Department's own stations, with a view to practically stowing the possibilities of viticulture to this colony in the future, this meeting considers it would he unwise to remove or lessen the present regulations in connection with grapes grown outside the colony." "That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Premier, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Customs, to local M.H.R.'s, and to kindred associations." Mr Kay thought the sooner something wa,s done the better it would be for all concerned. The motions were seconded by Mr J. C. F. Rennie, and were unanimously carried.