MR. KIRK AND POTATOES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 615, 18 September 1909, Page 8

MR. KIRK AND POTATOES.

... A DIFFICULT TASK. , •; Mr. T. W. Kirk, F.L.S.,Director' of Orchards, etc.,. in' New Zealand, may' be.' trusted not to have wasted the brief time, : beon' spending in Australia. Though' his' visit to the Commonwealth . 'was ' undertaken" primarily :to advise the'.Tnmnaninns how-.tojiaeetr their potato-blight troubles,; he has l ' extended " his Tifiit-'into' ■ tfth'ers. of. the Federal States. •; 'It •is generally'ib'elieved that he-i'lias;' instructions to try to ■ obtain : rescinding of the . "regulations : preventing'. the ■. admitof' New Zealand '.potatoes . into Australian States. He' will havo a difficult task,.; for Australians, \'in : . spite of their outcry l against r. our fruit-flj-r regulations,' are obstinate- protectionists: where' far'tn; products are; concerned.;:: A '• statement in ' tho ■ Melbourne ■' that; Mr. Kirk's first attempt;has. not been.'very , encouraging; The ■ ''Leader" says:—"Representations. Lave been . inade ,!to' ; 'thdvyictorian/Minister of Custora$ v in" favour; of; the relaxation', of-the prokib;tion'on. the' importation' 6f, 'potatoes, from New .'.Zealand.- It . has Ijeen " suggested that the relaxation should ;b^-limited 1 to potatoes as -to (rhose-Soundness a'certificat'e inras.supplied, arid that those admitted' shbiild- be 'foKdomestic'ahd dot seed purposes. - It 1 hak.'beoiV 'defcided that lie :an, in';"no ,circ'umsfances ? !r6move -the'; prohibition!" Or ';: v "'.' j' V ■