TWO SIDES. IMPORTATION OF AUSTRALIAN GRAPES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 9

TWO SIDES.

IMPORTATION OF AUSTRALIAN GRAPES.

A POSSIBLE DEPUTATION. [Br Telegraph — Special to The Post.] AUCKLAND, This Day. ,It is likely that a deputation of Auckland grape growers will wait on the Prime Minister while he is 'in Auckland and point out the situation from the Tignerons point of view, consequent on the removal of the restriction on Australian grapes. Outdoor growers are not likely to bo affected to such a large extent by the importation of Australian fruit sinco the season has been a good one and the locally grown grapes will be selling- fairly cheaply. At last Fridays meeting one grower expressed his willingness to sell 10 tons of outdoor varieties at 2£d per lb with glass house growers. The deputation will, probably urge on the Prime -Minister the advisability of delaying the removal of the restriction and thus giving the local growers a chance of disposing of their crops at a profit. SALE IN CHUISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The firib consignment of Australian grapes was sold in J Christ church yesterday, and. .proved a little disappointing. .The berries were small and the packing defective, with the result that mest ot the cases were (damp. The price secured averagad about fourpence per pound, and the demand seemed fairly keen. It is explained that tho packing was done hurriedly, and that better results can be hoped for in tho future. PREMIER REPLIES TO OBJECTORS. [BIT TELEGBAPh! — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] " AUCKLAND,, 31st January. ,Sir Joseph Ward says that ho has come to Auckland prepared to face angry grape growers, but the' Government, in deciding to remove the restriction on Australian grapas, had considered the, question from the view of th& people. Those belonging to the middle classes could not afford to pay lh 3d per lb for grapes ; it was simply making a luxury of what should be a .very common article of diet. "One's sympathies naturally go out; to the grape growers," said the Premier to ;i press representative this morning, "but it is not desirable to have a fruit diet restricted to the uso of a few who can afford to pay fancy prices." -.lie Auckland vignerons claim that the Government first induced them to go in for viticulture, and now with""d Jaws.its support at tho most critical puriod.'.' • ' "■That is nonsense," remarked the Premier. "As far as I know, the Government, in placing an embargo on the Australian importation, did so solely with a view to preventing the introduction of phylloxera. Now we have fprmulated a. scheme by which we hope to successfully keep cut the introduction of fruit from infected areas. If we find the regulations are disregarded, we will tkke drastic stops and prohibit the importation of grapes from any Earfc of tho ..Commonwealth where a reach of the rules regarding phylloxera, in infected areas has beeu discovered. In the .past there havo been thousands ,of people who want. grapes tor diet purposes, and they have, been unable to procuio them on account of the prohibitive prices. By ithe removal of the restriction on Australian importation cheap grapes will now be within the reach of everybody." THE HOT-HOUSE GROWER'S VIEW. The removal by , thß Government of the prohibition, on the importation of grapes, so far' as Australian fruit is concerned, has hjeen viewed with strong disapproval by growers of grapes under glass, who regard their industry as practically ruined already. Mr. F. Cußack, -of 5, Charlotte-street, Wellington, as "one specially interested, in tho cultivation ot grapes - in. Australia, writes to The Post, pointing out that the grape crops of Australia are an uncertain quantity, and that while grapes might be bold very cheaply on account of a glut one year, they would, perhapb. be quito unequal to the needs of the Home markets the next ; secondly, Mr. Cusack fears that \vith the imported grapes "the much dreaded phylloxera" might be introduced. If the grapes, continues Mr. Cusack, are to be admitted duty .free "we might as well at once- .give up all hopes of ever fostering the industry here." The writer considers that tho Government should carefully foster and assist the industry in every possible way "because with the aid of glass houses we have every natural advantage for the growth of the grape, in both tho North and the South Islands." Mr. Cusack concludes by stating that as soon as he is assured that he will not have to compete- against outsiders he intends "going whole-heartedly into tho business." The writer forgets, . first of all, that the grapes are not to be admitted from Australia free, as Parliament fixed the duty at Id per lb ; Mr. Cu&ack also ovei looks the fact that phylloxera has been in .New , Zealand for years, as the agricultural reports show, moreover, it is not yet eradicated. Another fact seems to have escaped Mr. Cusack's attention,'and it is this: The Government has 'made most stringent regulations (set out in full in fhe Gazette) in regard to the admision of grapes from Australia. Every consignment must be accompanied by a certificate as to their freedom from disease of any kind, and no wood or leaf must, be left on tho bunches. Failure to observe these conditions is punishable by tho destruction of th© fruit. As for Government- assistance to growers under .glass 'Mr. Cusack will see in the Agricultural Department's reports for at least the past seven years that the Government has • been assisting the industry in every possible way, and that Signor Bragato, the Government Viticulturistj" has devoted the greater part of his time to instructing growers under glass. Notwithstanding this assistance hof-houso grapes bay& never 'been > $>old at prices within the reach of persons with limited means, but have ranged from Is to 3s per ]b wholesale, > and 4s and 5s perlb has beep obtained.. Packing, freight, and handling^ it is true, have not left the growers princely profits ; but th-s ■ retail purchaser' cannot be held responsible for the- middleman. As for the fears of Mr. Cusack that the' Australian supply is not to be depended iipon, and that there will be a glut one year arid scarcity the next, long, residents in Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales know that there « is uo more reliablo and regular supply of fruit coming into the market, and that — in Adelaide at any rate — ■ magnificent whole fruit is sold in heavy bunches at I^'d per lb in the best shops.