AUSTRALIANS AND OUR GRAPE MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 91, 10 January 1908, Page 2

AUSTRALIANS AND OUR GRAPE MARKET.

:DEFINITE STATEMENT WANTED.- ' '•Australians isecrn to-ibe' chafing aver 'the perpetual uncertainty.' that surrounds' the,, question of their permission . to ship grapes to Now-Zfealand.' ? Mr. L. A. Saunders writes as follows.to the " Sydney Morning Herald ." :—' . •"Tho. uncertainty iof New Zealand's attitude respecting' the' importation of grapes into that country calls for immediate action on tho part of tho responsible body here towards ascertaining the precise inteufcion ■ of' tho : Dominion 1 . Government respecting, the matter. The objections raised by the'fruitgrowers' in the Auckland province are certainly not convincing, and are without justification from tho consumers' : and exporters' ' point,of view.. At the same time, wo must allow for a natural desiro on the part of tlie Auckland grower to conserve the industry forhis own special benefit, and would readily grant him the fight to protest wero his antagonism baset} upon • any' decided and conclusive evidence of any'established or even promising prosperity of the industry. It is said that tho industry there is oiiiy in, its infancy, and would suffer a serious set-back. As it is not,- I presume, the intention of' New South Wales wine-growers to ship wino grapes thither, I do not see how. the industry can bo affected, as 90 por cent, of the 'outside- grown grapes, are of this variety, nor is tiiero any indication that tho growing of tablo. grapes in tho open will ever result satisfactorily. When it comes to asking for time for tho purpose of changing tho varieties in tho hothouses, a fictitious complaint, is at once recognised, as the time of the ripening of, grapes in the hothouses is simply .a matter of cultivation, and tho ripening period could be easily regulated so as not to clash with tho imported fruit. Should it, however, be definitely decided by tho Dominion Government that its duty on grapes bo reduced to Id. per lb., it would bo just as well that there be a defmito understanding also that no inspection fee bo charged." ■