IMPORTATION OF GRAPES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12707, 21 January 1907, Page 3

IMPORTATION OF GRAPES.

Tho Hon. A. Krrkpatrick. Chief Secretary for South Australia, ha-s made representations to the New Zealand Government with the view of Tiaving the prohibition on the importation of grapes from South Australia removed. Tho ostensible reason for forbidding grapes being imported, hero was in order to prevent phylloxera coming to this colony, but as that dread disease has never attacked the vunes in South Australia, the Government of that colony see no reason why the present bar should be retained. It appears certain that Sir Joseph Ward anticipates that Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, will include grapes in the Australian produce in regard' to which he will ask a oonoeßsion from New Zealand. Interviewed by a "P-riess'' reporter, Mr Kirkpatriek stated tho views of his Government on the subject. He said: —'-Oar position is simply this: we can grow grapes of the very best qniality ana variety—probably better than they j-an l«» grown in any other part of ths •world; and our d-osiro is n mutually benefit both countries, New Zealand and out ourselves, by exporting them to this colony ; benefiting New Zealand because ths price of that -fruit as grown h_re seems to mc prohibitive. I am informed that the lowest price Uu-y are sold at is Is per lb, and I hav 1 ? heard that they go up to as high as to Gs and 7s at the beginning erf tho season. That does not appear to mc strange, seeing that they have to be artificially grown under plass. In rwir country they grow in the open. There is no necessity to grow them under glass, because nature has given South Australia a climate that, enables them to be grown in the open in abundance, and I am satisfied that even with a reasonable tariff, we could send grapes he-re, and they could Ik> -retailed to the conwimer at not more than Gd prr rb. and I believe at lets than that. Thar© is no doubt about our being able to send tlicm here in good condition, because we have sent 6mall shipments to London suc-eK-fuily. "How h*Y« your _agotiatioru. ptogro_*d .aft*far" ia rtfearmc* to* this question ?" "I havo seen Sir Joseph Ward, and other members of the Government," replied Mr Krrkpatrick," and they aJI havo given roe a sympathetic reception. They hay© agreed, at a_y rate, to allow ns to send a couple of tons to the Exhibition as soon as the grape season arrives—about the find of February. Tfiiit is satisfactory so far as it goes v because it will enable us to show the New Zealand people the kind of fruit, and f/'© condition in which it would arrive liere. But as to the bi<_ger question oF a permanent supply from our tliat I am afraid -will not be settled at onoe. and will probably have to lie postponed till the tariff is dealt with by The Government next srssien." Do yon not think the question will be, dealt with when Sir Joseph Ward 7* arranging th© reciprocal treaty with" Australia? '"Oh , yes," replied the Minister, "that really is the position that Sir Joseph Ward takes np."