The Fruit Embargoes

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21087, 12 February 1934, Page 8

The Fruit Embargoes

The public will learn with astonishment and impatience that the discussions in Wellington between the Commonwealth Minister for Commerce, Mr Stewart, and the New Zealand Government on the fruit embargoes in force between the two countries have been without conclusive results. Mr Stewart and his advisers left for Australia on Friday; and the only statement Mr Coates can make is that "various "subjects of interest were closely " discussed " and that the New Zealand Government had been invited to send a delegation to Australia 1o hold further discussions. If the embargoes had been recently imposed, or if they had not been officially discussed before, there would be some excuse for the delay. They have, however, been in force for more than a year and were discussed during the visit of Sir Massy Greene to New Zealand. It should now be possible, and it is certainly desirable, to state plainly what progress has been made in the negotiations and what points of disagreement have arisen. To New Zealand consumers and to exporters of stone fruits and potatoes it is most necessary that there should be a settlement without further delay. It is not in the interests of public health that there should be a shortage of citrus fruits; and there is no sensible reason why there should be a shortage.