CHEAP GRAPES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 111, 3 February 1908, Page 6

CHEAP GRAPES.

The vigorous who are so loudly objecting to tlie removal of the prohibition against the importation of Australian . grapes are basing their, protests upon their fear, if not their actual conviction, ; that phylloxera and ; the Jlediterranean fruit-fly; will come in with the fruit. They are urging that there are 30,000 acres under fruit, cultivation in New Zealand, producing fruit to the value of £1,000,000 annually, and giving employment to 6000 growers! Surely; they jay* this is an industry worth fostering, 'and worth protecting against the dangers attendant on the importation of " a small measure of supplies from peststricken countries." The Premier and the Minister for Agriculture, relying upon the reports of their departmental experts, declare that there is no ground whatever for these fears, and it may be taken for granted that the Government will maintain the very fullest measure of precautions. .The truth of the matter is, we believe, that the local, growers dread the effect of the Australian competition. They are not undeserving of,sympathy, since they have been encouraged by the Government to embark upon an industry which, in the absence of a protective tariff that, would be practically prohibitive of importation, cannot resist foreign competition. The existing duty of one penny per pound hardly affects the position 6f the Australian vigneron, so great is the disparity between the cost of production-in Australia and the cost in New Zealand. Local growers declare that they cannot produce grapes for less than.9d. or thereabouts, ana they advance that as a sound reason for protection against a rival who can sell at a profit at a penny or twopence. Of course it is not a reason for protection, but a very convincing piece of evidence that grape-growing is not naturally suited to the Dominion. Australian grapes are ; pot the product of_" cheap 'foreign' labour," but the product, of conditions naturally designed for grape-growing. Not one of the valid'reasons for high tariff protection apply to our grape industry at all. Reasonable protection would not be objected to, but. the only kind of protection that' the vignerons desire is the prohibition of all outside competition. The Government, as we have Said, must be blamed for encouraging an artificial industry beyond the point of economic safety, and it would be interesting, to know how much money has been unwisely applied in Jjliis direction!