NEW ZEALAND FRUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 84, 8 April 1922, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND FRUIT.

TRADE WITH HAWAII. EFFECT OF NEW TARIFF. I When Mr. Moritzon investigated matters in connection with the fruit trade in Hawai some four years ago. he found that no apples or fruit of any kind for that matter, were permitted to be imported from either New Zealand or Australia, owing to the introduction of the Mediterranean fruit fly from Australia, which caused havoc among no fewer than 74 varieties of fruit and vegetables, evnn pumpkins and melons being attacked. "1 am now glad to say that owing to the introduction of the natural enemy of this pest, it is well under control and is fast diminishing." he remarked this morning to a "Star" reporter. Mr. Moritzon has had considerable interests: in the trade in the Dominion, and is well acquainted with its fontures, so he addressed the directors of the Board of Agriculture in Honolulu, and as the result of his representations the embargo was lifted. Last year the first New Zealand apples sold in Honolulu at from 4 dollars 50 cents per case, which carried a duty under the old tariff of 10 cents per case. The apples were very well received as against the cool storage fruit from California." , The New Zealand Government, at his request, cent Mr. Moritaon on the last trip of the Makura a shipment of apples and pears, which were exhibited in ono of the principal shops, and caused much favourable comment. They were solely for exhibition and distribution purposes. The ehip-ment clearly showed that the New Zealand product could compare favourably with any grown in any part of the world.. "Under the new tariff," said Mr. Moritzon, "which, however, is republican—they are always advocates of a high tariff, and the democrats of a correspondingly low one—our apples now carry a duty of 36 cents a case. This has been further aggravated by the rise in exchange, which is now on a basis of about 4 dollars 50 cents, as against 3 dollars 75 cents prevailing last year. At the present time Californian cold storage apples are selling at 3 dollars 59 cents a case, and, of course, there is only a small sale at 4 dollars 50 cents. The quality again suffers. This I consider '■ to be very unfair. We do not treat the ' American fruit in New Zealand like that, and mir article is much superior i of the Californian. That is admitted."