Our Australian Trade

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 9

Our Australian Trade

Sir, —Australia has condescended to allow a very restricted quantity of New Zealand potatoes to enter the country, an infinitesimal matter of some 10,000 tons per annum ; if and when the Australian crop should fail. At this moment potatoes are both expensive and scarce, the wholesale price at the main ports of Australia being in the neighbourhood of £l4 per ton. CouiWry prices iu districts where it is impossible to grow potatoes are higher. Prices are high and quality is exceptionally low. This matter of “quality” really, explains everything; if the population'of Australia onee became acquainted with the high grade quality potatoes of New Zealand, it would be very difficult to reconcile them again to the' Australian article, which is waxy, soapy and useless for roasting, and also for mashing, as some parts of the tubers are soft and others are “woody and uncookable; the _ resultant taste is very far from appetising. Even the Association of Fish and Chip Merchants approached the Government in deputation, asking that the embargo against New Zealand potatoes be lifted, as the local article was useless for their particular business, and the price made it almost prohibitive to give any chips a* all with the fish; the small quantity that could be given, combined with the higo price of fish, made the customer disgusted and their business was rapidly dwindling. Needless to say the deputation met witn little success. This brings up the matter of Aew zler.land blue cod. These words are boldly marked on the Government railway restaurant menus in Sydney, but the blue cod served is the most miserable imitation of New Zealand blue cod imaginable. Mostly one gets a portion , of barracoota with long, thin bones up to two inches in length, or some kind of red cod. Whatever it is it most certainly is the worst possible advertisement for the whitefleshed. crisp-flaked, sweet-eating New Zealand V lllp Mfl - Yet at tlle same t,niP the real article is eheap enough in the shops certainly cheap compared to the prices charged for the Australian fish, which is usually high-priced and of mediocre quality. But why a Government institution should continue to show its goodwill toward New Zealand, this way is beyond comprehension. A much fairer balance of trade is needed. Too long has Australia taken all the oats and given New Zealam the ehaff. —I am. etc.. ti.n.A. Sydney. February S.