CHEAP GRAPES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 104, 25 January 1908, Page 4

CHEAP GRAPES.

THE IMPORTATION DUTY REMOVED GOVERNMENT GOES THE WHOLE HOG , > . 'For., years : past, there-,has been .consider--able agitation on the p,art pf the Press'and public on the question of •' •grapes to bo imported into the Dominion?)' ; i Tho g) cater portion pf New Zealand is not suitable in- climate ■ for growing-; good; eating sav ji; the' open air. Some kinds do ycry v well in' Haiyke's.-Bgiy and> qorth, of Auckland, but so fap tho partial success' ackioyed in ' thoso- districts" his - not : demonstrated r that ..jy this is a grape-growing cpuptry, as gener- ' ' ally understood by the term. That phylloxi era exists m our-, vines ;is not domed,- so • -wo oannot -boast ,! that wo are. the immaculately pure as far as the 'grape industryis ■*; po pee pnOd. ; \ ; j ■' f; Si: v Matters climatic sro entirely- diffej-ent'in Australia, with''the: result that .choice'lruitv is sold-in the streets of Sydficy, Melbourne, and -.Adelaide "inv.ihe seasoifr-rebruary and March—for* twopence aiid'eyen a penny per pimiidS; All. those p'epple- \viib-:Hayo ; visited Australia. at?-that-. time-of ..the:':y.earik|iow v :' - ;j. this, and so the:'agitofcipn.-. fori the.tiising)o£'.:!i : ; the i Australian .grapes.-has:-gone.-on year afteryeaivruntil }a&t year, : lheiucamq one,.-.JtL> ' 4 J. Hv.Scott,: Commissioner for. South'Austrar;-.!.?- -:' ■htj'to: the New' Zealand. Exhibition,, who be-,,;'. ";;', came exceedingly- j wrath -at tliisOridiculousi•... - restriction; and poipted out that m his State'.. there vas no phyiloxera.. He .the . matter.with the. Government;, and eventually was allowed ;to import: a ton for disposal at,, the Exhibition. .It' was a' top. of tlio most. ; Ipse jousf juiton earth] - and.- tljg', Gbyerpnient',.-'-, •:. melted, lust, as the-.cool grapes did in ;the . . moutta-rit ■ wonjdf. allow,- grapes.. tov come . .in .'... ' from the:: phylloxera-free (State,..Squth-.-Aus-..:. traha...: But t nothing; further "y/as dor*} until... i: it was pointed oqt by ThbiPominion that.the,, . grape > §eason - wast -at. hand, and -the : rcstrio-.v turn had npt been: lifted/ as\-promised.The. . Government got busy at once, with the result' that:.'a. notice'appears;- in this, week'i Gazette proclaiming that grapes will.he- ad- j : mitted from- the ,Australian Commonwealth. ~ , It' does- not 'restrict, the grapes so .to, be -, , admitted ito :the" one state ,tnat is said to be... absolutely free, from phylloxera, but merely . provides that fin officer of tho Department,of Agriculture must certify; that no phylloxera ■ isikiipwii to, exigt \yithi)i, a, mile, of ,the ,vme- s ,•; wards where-the.grapes grow..,- This is a completo reversal of tne Govermnent s caror. ful policy m this matter,. for it practicauy throws open the whole of. ..the Eastern States,. . and growers will only havo to report that . . tlio grapes they :want. a.certificato- fpr . , grown--a nnle away; from . the' phylloxera-, smitten'vineyard. , , [ viii.[ As sqon as: this news was.conveyed i-o a . - -local fruit merchant, yesterday, he at once, r cabled to Sydney advising growers' roiiresenr thtives in Sydney to ship (vntji certmcato). - So Wellington may look for Australian grapes on -Wednesday.,"next. • - It, is - just; a- . little 'early yet; : but in- a veekror.. two the season wjll he in.full swing, when-it is , - leged tlia,t we -jvill be able to purchase the luscious grapes of' Australia at. a pnee. lipt... ' exceeding- 6a.'a ; pound. ' j n.' 1 v Tlio Government lias acted wisely, and, the i people of -tho;; Dominion should bo graterui > for the boon in store. .