NEW ZEALAND WALNUTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19940, 29 May 1930, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND WALNUTS.

AN AKAROA PROTEST.

EMBARGO ON IMPORTED NUTS

SOUGHT.

A request that the New Zealand ITarmers' Union assist in securing an embargo or tariff on imported walnuts was received'at yesterday's meeting of the Canterbury District Executive, it benig alleged that the imported nuts were spoiling the market for the Now Zealand product. The matter is to be investigated. A letter from T. E. Taylor and Co., Akaroa, stated that in the Akaroa district large quantities of walnuts were grown, and this year, owing to large foreign importations, principally from China, the local farmers were finding it almost impossible to market their crop. A petition was being drawn up by growers, and will be placed before Parliament asking that something should bo done, in the form of a tarifl or embargo, to prevent undue competition from foreign countries. It asked the Farmers' Union in Canterbury to assist in securing such a measure, as the problem o ( a bad market for walnuts was a very serious one for the •mail holder, who relied to a large extent on his grove to help lira out for the year. Walnuts were grown, not only in Canterbury, but also in the Nelson and Blenheim districts. There was really no reason for the importation of foreign nuts, as the local article was superior in quality, being thinshelled and with a larger and better Savoured kernel. The Chinese walnut hud a hard, thick Bhell with little inside it.

The letter concluded by venturing the opinion that if a housewife paid 3d or 4d more for New Zealand walnuts she wai gtill making the better bargain. It was decided to refer the letter to the Litt'e River branch, of the' Union for a report.