CITRUS FRUIT EMBARGO

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 21

CITRUS FRUIT EMBARGO

j .. —— EXPECTATIONS OF EXPORTERS POSSIBILITY OF SHIPMENT IN JULY Fruit importers are hopeful that if the embargo on the Importing of Australian citrus fruits is lifted, the V/anganeUa, leaving Australia early in July, may be able to bring over the first shipment. Representations were made to the Government tfiat the initial cargo be sent on the Wainui, which will leave Melbourne on June 27, but advice has been received that arrangements cannot be completed by the Government in time. It was hoped, however, that the Wanganella would be able to bring over , a shipment. In a statement made to "The Press" last evening Mr G. S. Radley, o4 Messrs Radley and Frampton, said that he would like to correct an iflipression in the minds of some growers that the removal of the embargo meant reverting to conditions as they were up to December, 1932. This was not so, as he and others had worked for the entry of oranges and mandarins only. Other fruits and vegetables, such as apricots, cherries, plums, tomatoes, cucumbers, and marrows, also lemons and marmalade oranges, could be supplied by; New Zealand growers, and they must receive full consideration. "It had always been understood," said Mr Radley, "that the entry of oranges and mandarins would be made on a quota basis, in the same way as bananas. This ensures that markets will not be glutted or New Zealand used as a dumping ground. The main New Zealand-grown fruits, marketed during the Australian citrus season are apples and pears, and growers of these fruits need have no fear of being adversely affected. As a matter of fact, it is my opinion that they will benefit, in that the overhead charges of a retailer are spread over more fruits. Two years' experience had shown that with the shortage of oranges no more apples had been sold and prices had been no better. "Benefit to Growers" "On the other hand, the New Zealand grower will, in certain seasons, receive a big benefit with his Australian outlet, especially if regulations are amended which will permit of entry into Australia of apples and pears from any part of New Zealand, as long as fireblight is not on the property. It is hoped that this regulation will be widened to embrace the foregoing. "I read the remarks passed by the apple growers at the meeting of the Canterbury Apple Growers' Association, and although one or two of those who took part in this dicussion were slightly out in some of their facts, I feel that their attitude is an eminently reasonable one. I feel sure that no objection to Australian citrus fruits arriving in New Zealand will be made by them, provided unrestricted entry is not permitted. State of Snpply "The remarks of Mr C. E. Pope which appeared in The Press' on Friday are likely to be misleading, in that the remarks that he attributes to Mr Reilly about a plentiful supply of imported fruits, appearing in an Australian journal, would be hopelessly out of date; and Mr Reilly.'s remarks apply to Dunedin only, not to New Zealand as a whole. His statement that oranges are retailing at no higher price than they were before the embargo Cannot bear investigation. Oranges are selling at approximately double the price they were two years ago—the public must, of course, know this. "His statement that the public will not receive any benefit by the entry of Australian oranges is also wide of the mark, because everyone knows the quality of South Australian and Victorian fruit, which can be sold at a reasonable price, and must be preferable to the meagre supply, mostly poor quality, which is being received to-day at exorbitant prices."