FRUIT INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 171, 15 April 1933, Page 6

FRUIT INDUSTRY

Australian Imports Feared CASE FOR PROTECTION By Telegraph.—Press Association. Nelson, April 12. The recent Melbourne cablegram stated that the new trade treaty between Australia and New Zealand provided, among other things, that Australia is to have the New Zealand market for dried and canned fruits and certain fresh fruits. Mr. Milner, managing-director of Kirkpatricks’, doubts if the message is correct. The terms of the treaty will not be announced until both Governments have had an opportunity of considering them. It will then remain to be ratified by the respective Parliaments. Mr. Milner stated that it was absolutely essential to the fruit-canning fruit-growing industries of New Zealand that at least the present duties on imported canned fruits from Australia be maintained. The industry of fruit-canning in New Zealand has developed rapidly in the past few years and New Zealand is now able to cater for her own requirements in peaches, apricots, pears, and small fruits. Fruit-canning dovetailed with the primary industry of fruit-growing, said Mr. Milner. Fruit-growing supports many New Zealand families on close settlements for which the industry is particularly adapted. Fruit-canning is a very valuable secondary industry fully entitled to adequate protection. Thousands of pounds are invested in fruitcanning and fruit-growing in New Zealand. Relying on repeated Government promises of reasonable tariff assistance and encouragement, fruitgrowers have increased their areas and substantial additions have been made to factories and canning plants. Kirkpatricks now purchase for canning all canning pears grown in the Nelson district and also purchase large quantities of canning apricots from Otago, besides taking all canning peaches grown by local orchardists, and have established a large peach orchard. “’The problem does not end with what might seem a selfish desire on our part, added Mr. Milner, “to urge for adequate tariff protection. The problem is big"cr than that for you must add to the number of people employed in New Zealand fruit canneries the thousands of farmers who grow fruit and hundreds of other people who owe their livelihood directly and indirectly to the prosperity of the industry.