Aust Pea Imports Being Discussed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31585, 24 January 1968, Page 26

Aust Pea Imports Being Discussed

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 23. The Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) confirmed today that an application to import frozen peas duty-free from New Zealand to meet an expected shortage in Australia had been rejected by the Federal Department of Customs and Excise.

Mr Marshall said the decision to refuse duty-free entry to Dobson’s Foods (Australia) Proprietary, Ltd, for 250 tons of frozen peas under a by-law was taken after investigations had been made by the Department of Primary Industry into the situation in Australia, particularly into the reported shortages expected in the Victorian production Mr Marshall said the extent of the Tasmanian pea harvest was still unknown and until it was possible to estimate more accurately total availability of Australian peas for the 1967-68 season, the Australian Government was not prepared to. grant any special duty concession on imports. Mr Marshall said: “Frozen peas are, of course, in schedule A of the Free Trade

Agreement and the Australian Government has been phasing out the duty in accordance with the terms negotiated. “The by-law application of Dobsons was made outside the agreement, and in accordance with normal by-law procedures in Australia. “The position is still under discussion with Australian officials and detailed information on the availability of New Zealand frozen peas is being supplied to Australia," he said.