THE FRUIT EMBARGO

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21903, 2 October 1936, Page 16

THE FRUIT EMBARGO

TO THE EDITOB OI 1 TUB PR".SS ' Sir, —Your eminently sane editorial on the fruit embargo iix "The Press" to-day should be thrust under the nose of every member#of Parliament. The value of oranges, and of. other citrus fruits, as articles of diet is indisputable. There is direct evidence that vitamin C, in which these fruits are especially • rich, is an important factor in tooth metabolism, and for this reason alone, in view of the deplorable state of this nation's teeth, the question of the importation of oranges from j New South Wales should be raised entirely above all .considerations of party, national pride, or sectional interests. ■ We- may. be told, as an excuse for procrastination,.that "first things must come first" But surely the solution of this ridiculous impasse is simple. What, is to prevent Mr Savage writing to the Government of New South Wales in this wise:—"Gentlemen, If we take your oranges will you take our potatoes? Because if you will, we shall. Yours sincerely, ." It would now be up to Mr Stevens, Premier of New South Wales. If he is not'bluffing, we are entitled to assume from his published remarks that, his reply could be, "Sure! Let's go!" So why do they not do it?— Yours, WM. L. ROBERTSON. . Hokitika, September 30, 1936.