FRUIT-CANNING INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 125, 23 November 1923, Page 4

FRUIT-CANNING INDUSTRY

QUESTION OF OUTSIDE COM- ■ : PETITION.

Mr. E. P. Hudson, member for Motueka, has received a letter from the Hon W. Dowme Stewart, Minister- of Customs, m answer to representations mads} by him, m which the Minister says •— "I have already gone fully into the question as to whether assistance could be given through the Customs Department to the fruit-canning industry. I find that the only means by which this could be done are (1) the imposition of dumping duty and (2) by an increase of the import duties. As 1 advised you on the 23rd August last, the question of the imposition of dumping duty on canned fruits has already been fully investigated, and it is found that, from the evidence obtained locally, such a duty could not be imposed either on Australian or Californian canned fruits "An experienced officer of the Cus■A ,^ cPartment has now, investigated in California the conditions under which such fruit ia sold there, both for home consumption and for export. He has just reported by cable that the current domestic values of fruit exported from that country are correctly certified and that no evidence was obtained to justify the Department in making a claim for dumping duty. "The only other way in which assistance could be given is by an alteration in the tariff on preserved fruits. Under the law at present in force, canned fruits are liable to duty at the rate of per cent., plus 1 per cent, (primage)— 26 per cent, ad valorem—if of British make, and a 40 per cent iblus 1 per cent, (primage)—4l per cent—if of foreign manufacture.

As you are aware, these duties are fixed by statute, and I could not make any alteration therein without the consent of Parliament, I regret therefore, that, while sympathising with fruitgrowers and manufacturers in the unfortunate position in which the state of the markets outsido New Zealand has placed the industry, I cannot at, present malu any ttllemion U^L wol ,i d render assistance".