ISLAND FRUIT TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 298, 10 September 1908, Page 3

ISLAND FRUIT TROUBLE.

IMPORTERS ORCAMSE. - WELLINGTON CONFERENCE . AEEANGED. ' IS THERE A LOOPHOLE? ; It is feared, (says our special Auckland correspondent) that a large cargo of fruit due in Auckland by the vessel from Fiji early next week will have to be dostroyed, and that the, local market'consequently will not receive full supplies; Importers of Island r fruit state that the fruit inspector cannot permit the fruit ;■ to be landed unless it is accompanied by certificates to the effect that it has been grown a mile away from' any orchard or plantation in which the fruit fly exists, but there is practically no chance of the certificates being forthcoming. A Wellington Conference. ;.. The importers, who held an indignation' meeting last week in'this connection, decided at a meeting held yesterday, to arrange for a conferenco of'fruit importers in Wellington on' September 22, and they also";agreed 'to telegraph to tho .Prime Minister asking him suspend the regulations till the conference has boen held, and thus. permit tho Fijian fruit to come in under inspection at Auckland. • ■ Mr. A. Tooman,. who. presided at the meeting in question, said that the importers would require to,take.very prompt action'in regard to the fruit regulations, as the, Fiji boat was dub ' to.; arrive on Tuesday next. Seeing that the requisite, certificates would he'very, unlikely to be forthcoming, it seemed as if the whole cargo would have to be refused. It,would be advisable to request the Prime. Minister' to . suspend the '■ regulations until the importers oould hold a' conference in Wellington arid wait..upon him as a deputation. It'-would also be necessary to telegraph to the brokers in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dtinedin, asking thcm'.to appoint three delegates from each centre' to attend a cohfererice'. -. ''' " . \ ; Mr., A." E: Glover ' moved—"That a conference be.held in'Wellirigton on September 22." ' . The motion 'was- seconded by' Mr. Howarth and carried.' Messrs. A. Tooman and A. E. Glover, and •a' representative of' , Messrs. Donald and Edenborough were appointed the Auckland delegates, and Messrs. Krprifeld, •Messenger,-and Grove were elected an executive committee to receive replies to' telegrams and 'transact business generally. Appeal to the Premier. At Mr.. Tooman's suggestion it was agreed, to send a telegram' to Sir Joseph Ward, as follows: —" We • regret not having received any further communication from you as pro-mised-in your wire of July. 31. : The Fiji steamer is due early, next iveok, and tho .inspector informs us that unless tho certificates arrive -tho fruit will not be "admitted; Consequently the cargo will be a 'total . loss, ■as'we : fear;the, required'certificates will not be forthcoming.' Will you postpone'the regu-lations-until- the conference proposed for.September, '22 is held ?' The matter is urgent." Transferring the Trade. . . Mr.-A. B;-_ said tho the Government Was imposing meant a very sorious blow to the Fiji trade.., The Acting-Colo-nial Secretary for Fiji had askec) tho Victorian Government what it was prepared to do to assist-by subsidy, a.fortnightly steamship service ■ betwpejT, and tho Fijian Goyernment was prepared tp offer . £5000., .peyjsararom It was •estimated 'by; Fijian'morcha'nts' "that'',the importation : of. food. .stufis,' from , Melbourne' would, amount ~ to ,500' tons .m.onthly; V.That, meant' that Auckland was going- to-loso that, trade .unless the' Government- came- to-the rescue. Instead of trying to, assist the trade the' Government was, hampering'it.' ■ Mr. Donald: The regulations.;do .not. specify that the- certificates -shall be required, from-tho Cook Group. . , Is There a Loophole? Mr. Glover: As far as I can see, there is no regulation regarding, a' certificate being required ..for fruit from tho Cook Group. -Those islands are part of New Zealand, and regulations requiring a certificate in the case of the Cook Islands' fruit have never-been gazetted. . ■ The Chairman:... It shows what sort of •knowledge and administration are at the head of the division. It'has been 'found that lio. gazette has been issued in regard to regulations in' tho Cook Island . trade, and iyqt .au inspector is sent there to get the certificates signed. Mr; Messenger: We will havo to warn shippers in Fiji and Tonga that wo cannot be held; responsible for freight if the certificates are not forthcoming.., Tho, Chairman: If the Prime Minister will not. suspend the regulations, the Union Company will havo to require freight to be prepaid. An.importer: We cannot refuse to pay up, or else wo will be arbitrarily dealt with for years afterwards.". Forced to Combine. Mr.'Grove: We must all stand together on that' point. It is my intention after the delegates. return from Wellington to': move that rules and regulations be drafted so that we can'form a real association.' "The Chairman: I think we'all see the necessity for that. The secretary was instructed to wire to fruit-brokers ■ in Wellington,' Christchurch, and Dunedin, requesting them' to appoint delegates to tho conference. '