FOREIGN FOODS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 296, 8 September 1908, Page 6

FOREIGN FOODS.

WHAT THE DOMINION HAS TO IMPORT. , FAR FROM INDEPENDENT. New Zealand is far from being as independent in tho matter of fresh food supplies as people with the true national spirit would desire. To a cortain extent any country is dependent on others for a portion of its food supplies—tho seasonal changes taking placo at different times in tho various countries assures that. And it is well that it is so. Wo aro enabled to get stone fruit in November, but it is not our stone fruit. It comes from sunny Australia, whero the fruit ripens and the wool grows much earlier than in these islands. But allowing a fair margin for early fruits, and those that will not grow in this country, there still remain a few food facts that aro likely to surprise those who have been induced to believe New Zealand to bo "a land flowing with milk and honey." Tho reference to milk must not be taken too literally, as it is one of the things that the country produces in superabundant quantities. As an instance of tho kind of surprise meant, the writer must quote, from personal experience. A cauliflower—a beautiful bloom —was exposed for salo oil Saturday evening under tho flare of a gas jot. " How much?" was asked. " Shilling," was answered. "Whore from?" \vas asked. "Melbourne!" was answered. "Many como?" was asked. "Plenty!" was answered. The vegetable dealer was laconic, but to the point, and the Now Zealander who asked tho question felt personally offended, not at the price charged—and that was heavy enough in all conscience—but because they had come from Melbourne. It lowered his -pride to learn that there was room in our vegetable market for Victorian produce, and that Victoria had enough and to spare. Was it "God's own country" after all? Those Melbourne cauliflowers seemed to r,ffer dumb to the contrary. Tho writer felt personally aggrieved, and, burning for revenge, approached the markets on Saturday, arriving in timo to seo a man with a huge cask. "What's that?" was asked. " Eggs," was answered. "Where from?" was asked. "Adelaide," was answered. "How many thero?" was asked. "Hundred and fifty dozen!" was answered. The writer asked if eggs were imported from anywhere else. The man glanced with tho suspicion of a map who suspects that ho to whom lie is speaking is not "all there." Seeing sanity sitting in tho windows of tho mind ho answered that importations wero made from China and Japan—and it had always been bravely sung that "Wo Scorn the Foreign Yoke." Cauliflowers from Melbourne, eggs from Japan and China (not china eggs); what next? It was ascertained on inquiry that tho onion is a product that is a big it-cm on inward manifests of intercolonial steamers at soino seasons of the year. Onions arc imported from Sydney, Melbourne, Japan, and California. An Amorican shipment is duo in Wellington this month.. Tho local supply usually oxhausts itself by tho cud of August. In any case they will not keep longer. During May, June, and July largo shipments of melons arrive by every Sydney boat, which jn the summer months come down each week with heavy'consignments of oranges, lemons, mandarins, pineapples, and passion fruit. Apples wo get in plenty from Tasmania and California,- and our early cucumbers, green peas, and freuch beans conic from Sydney: 111 theory this substantial competition from tho States of the should , induce sweet reasonableness in prices. In practice it docs nothing of tho sort. Australia sends.so long as it pays to send, but when tho local product is available in sufficient quantities tho Australian growers are advised and the shipment ceases. -'" So that, barring .tlio eggs and. tho cauliflowers, the caso seems to bo that if wo want early fruit (and vegetables) wo must get it from abroad or go without, but New Zealanders in these days aro not disposed to go without anything making for bodily coinfort.