CITRUS FRUITS EMBARGO

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22243, 6 November 1937, Page 23

CITRUS FRUITS EMBARGO

REMOVAL URGED ON GOVERNMENT “AN ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION*’ [From Our Own Reporter, i TIMARU, November e “An erroneous impression exists that the embargo on Australian, citrus fruit has been lifted," said Mr P- 1 Pattrick (Wellington t, introducing a remit urging the Government to remove the restrictions at the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of : Commerce to-day. "The fact is that there is an embargo on oranges, mandarins, and grapefruit, but that temporary relief is being given by permission to import oranges from fly-frco-areas during the off season —most generous!” .. The permit system, he said, was .1 move in the right direction; but par - tial relief from November to April, when other fruit was plentiful, was not nearly as important as relief from May to October, when citrus fruits were most needed. Mr A. R. Hislop (Wellington) criticised the New Zealand lemon-growing industry for failing to grow a fnnt even approaching the quality of imported fruit. The New Zealand lemons were sold at a ridiculously high price when the difference of quality was so marked. Mr A. M. Seaman (Auckland) said that shipments of orang.s had been destroyed in New Zealand because the controlling authority would not reduce the price and the public would not buy at the price fixed. Mr V. E. Hamilton (Canterbury) said he did not think the conference need worry, as it seemed that the Government would see that adequate supplies of citrus fruits were imported. The conference resolved: “That this conference, being of the opinion that the present regulations governing the importation of citrus fruits into New Zealand are very materially accountable for the inadequacy of the supply and the inordinately high prices to consumers, asks the Government to take immediate steps to remedy the position.”

REMOVAL OF LAND TAX

DESIRE OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE [From Our Own Reporter.! TIMARU. November 5. “Land tax is a tax on the source of wealth itself instead of on the income from it,” said Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon. introducing a remit on taxation at the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to-day. la a report of a Royal Commission in 1924, he said, Mr Justice Sim had found that the graduated land tax had outlived its original usefulness in the breaking up of large estates. Since then there had "been no aggregation of property, and the tax was now a serious handicap to expenditure on farm land, and it stifled industry itself with, a huge capital levy. The land tax had hit some businesses so hard that they would have to dose their doors if relief were not granted. The tax had never been meant to apply to business premises. On a firm with capital’ of £200,000 land tax in 1935 was £416, and,ln 1937 it bad risen to the huge sum of £2500. The remit was passed in the following form: — “That the Government be urged to abolish or revise the land tax levy, the increase of which is most unequal between taxpayers, and imposes a crushing burden on most: and that provision be made for: (a) The full deduction of mortgages, (b) the exemption of leasehold properties in cities and boroughs from liability for this tax, and <c) the deduction of land tax payments as an expense in computing income for income tax purposes.”

DOMINION’S DEFENCES

I THE PRESS Special Service. 1 TIMARU, November 5. Congratulations to the Government for its work in improving the defences of New Zealand were expressed by Mr Newman Wilson (Dunedin) at the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to-day. The following remit was passed:— . . ... “That with view to giving the fullest support in providing for the adequate defence of New Zealand, the chambers of commerce pledge themselves to support any effective measures, voluntary or compulsory, which the Government may take.”

OFFICERS ELECTED

MR A. G. LUKN, OF AUCKLAND,

NEW PRESIDENT [From Our Own Reporter.] TIMARU November 5. The election of officers ended the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, held here during the last three days. The new president is Mr A- G. Lunri, of Auckland. Other offices were filled as follows: Vice-president, Mr M. S. Myers (Dunedin) ; North Island members cf executive, Messrs Gordon Fraser (New Plymouth) and F. H. Beth wane (.Wanganui); South Island members, Messrs C. B. Tapley (Invercargill) and W. M. Sexton (Timaru); Wellington members, Messrs P. E. Pattrick, Stronach Paterson, Sir Charles Norwood, Messrs R. H. Nimmo, H. J. V. James, and H, Anderson.

Mr Norton Francis was reappointed a vice-president of the Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. The 1938 conference of the chambers will be held in Auckland.