EMBARGO ON FRUIT FROM N.S.W.

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 300, 15 September 1936, Page 3

EMBARGO ON FRUIT FROM N.S.W.

Move to Secure Removal 7 ORCHARDISTS’ MISSION ARRIVES With hopes of improving the trade relations existing between New Zealand and New South Wales insofar as the fruit industry is concerned, three representatives of New South Wales fruit interests arrived in Wellington by the Marama yesterday with a view to discussing the position with the several sections of the industry In this Dominion. It was stated by members of the party that the growers of New South Wales felt very keenly the loss of a market which they had established with the Dominion many years ago, and the opinion was expressed that if the embargo was removed the New Zealand public would be able to obtain ample supplies of fruit, notably oranges and mandarins, at reasonable prices. The members of the party are Briga-dier-General J. Heane, a prominent New South Wales orchardist, who has been president of the Fruitgrowers’ Federation of that State for the past 15 years, Colonel E. E. Herrod, secretary of the federation, and Mr. P. S. Macdermott, a member of the council of the New South Wales Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries, and at present acting-secretary of that chamber, which embraces most of the leading fruit and vegetable agents in the Sydney market. Mr. Macdermott is also chairman of the fruit section of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, and president of the New South Wales Citrus Fruit Export Association. Expressing the wish to discuss fruit matters generally with the several sections of the industry in New Zealand, General Heane said on arrival yesterday that he was hopeful that some personal discussions may result in improved trade relations between this Dominion and New South Wales, as there were several varieties of fruit, notably oranges and mandarins, which were almost at a premium In New Zealand, yet are available in New South Wales in plentiful supply, and consequently at prices, within the reach of every purse. General Heane expressed regret that the continuance of the embargo should not only deprive New South Wales growers from enjoying the friendly business relationship that had existed for many years, but that it should also prevent the New Zealand, public from securing ample supplies" of fruit at reasonable prices.

Effect of Embargo.

New South Wales produced over 60 per cent., of Australia’s oranges and over 80 per, cent, of its mandarins, said General Heane. That State of the Commonwealth was in a position to supply oranges over a long period of the ’year through having the bulk of the production of the late Valencia variety which was available in plentiful supply from September to March. At the present time, the Sydney open market prices were such as. would allow of oranges to be landed in New Zealand and to reach the consuming public at from 1/- to 1/6 a dozen and mandarins from 6d. to !/-•

“The cost o£ the embargo against New South Wales fruit to the New Zealand public in regard to oranges alone is demonstrated by the fact that in 1932 Australian oranges were more plentiful and cheaper than in 1935,” he said. “In 1932 the total exports from all Australian States were 223,631 bushels at a total cost of £134,178 (estimated on a selling price of 12/-- per bushel), while in 1935 the number of bushels was 163,146, which at a selling price of 18/- cost the retailers £146,831. That is, from Australian sources alone, the New Zealand public received 60,485 bushels less but paid £12,653 more—which is to say that for a quantity 27 per cent, less a cost 9 per cent, higher was paid. Because of the large production of mandarins, oranges and other fruits in New South Wales and due to Sydney being the point of departure for Australian shipping bound for the Dominion, it becomes obvious that these products can be supplied at a considerably lower rate than from other sources. Cost to New Zealand Consumers. “That the supply of oranges available to the New Zealand publie during the last few years is considerably less than is required is evident by the attempts to introduce the fruit from various other sources, including the West Indies,” added General Heane. "Unlike the product from New South Wales, which has always been sold on consignment, most of these introductions have been released at a fixed price which resulted in a much higher price to the consumer. For example, an examination of available official figures seems to indicate that, last year an equivalent to an approximate 26,000 bushels were landed from the West Indies at a landed cost of 15/-. In the absence of supplies from New South Wales retailers in order to secure supplies of oranges appear to have purchased at from 30/- to 35/-. The margin between the landed cost and the price to the retailer may, of course, be justified, but it does show that this one transaction cost the New Zealand consumers something like £46,000. It should thus be apparent that any attempt to establish a more favourable trade balance by restricting purchases of New South Wales fruit must be accompanied by an extra taxation of the fruit-eating public of New Zealand ”

Similar comment on the prices at which New South Wales navel oranges and mandarins could be sold in New Zealand were it. not for the embargo was made by Mr. Macdermott. He mentioned the fact that at the present time New Zealand would only allow the importation of oranges from one State in the Commonwealth —South Australia. Tho total acreage planted in oranges and mandarins in Australia was 46,342 acres, he stated, being comprised as

“It will be seen that South Australia has only 10 per cent, of the total plantings of Australia, and navel oranges comprise about 80 per cent, of South Australia’s production, very few mandarins being grown in that State. New South Wales grows over 'JO per cent, of the mandarins produced in Australia,” proceeded Mr. Maedermott Valencia oranges, which are available from September to March, are also grown mostly in New South Wales and Victoria.

“The existing embargo by New Zealand thus prevents the New Zealand consumer from obtaining cheap navel oranges during the months of June to September, ami with the exception or a

few cases from South Australia means that mandarins are unobtainable, while in the case of the warmer months from September to March, instead of cheap Valencias of excellent quality from New South Wales the only oranges available to New Zealanders are highpriced South Australian navels in September and October and • imported oranges from Jamaica and the United States of America from November to March, also at high values. Prevention of Infected Fruit. “The embargo was placed on Australian fresh fruits by New Zealand on the ground of the danger of the introduction of Mediterranean fruit fly. The Australian and New South Wales Governments have the power and are willing to enforce regulations that will prevent any infected fruit from leaving New South Wales, and that this can be done is confirmed by resolutions passed at the conference of pathologists, entomologists and other scientific officers held at Canberra in 1933-34, at which New Zealand was represented by Dr. G. H. Cunningham. “It should also be mentioned that New Zealand iinjwted fruit from New South Wales for over 40 years. The fact that the fly was not introduced into New Zealand during that period should in itself be sufficient evidence that the precautions taken by Australian authorities are an efficient safeguard. All fruit sent to New Zealand in the past was fumigated before dispatch. Less than ?■ of 1 per cent, of the oranges grown are infected by fruit fly in Australia, while other fruits prohibited entry by tho embargo are not hosts for the fly.”

follows: — Acres. p.e. New South Wales .. . 29.068 62.7 . 5.814 12.5 South Australia .... . 4,896 10.6 OuPonsLind .»•••• . 3,424 7.4 West Australia .... . 3,140 6.S 46,342