ISLAND TOMATOES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 86, 8 October 1930, Page 11

ISLAND TOMATOES

AN ALLEGED DANGER '

IMPORTATION OF FRUIT FLY

. have been made from time to'time that the importation of Cook Island tomatoes to New Zealand should, be prohibited during November and December, because such importations spoil the prices of the New Zealand hothouse-grown tomato1. Further representations have been made that becauso of the alleged danger from the introduction of the Mediterranean fruit fly to New Zealand,' this fruit should not be permitted to enter the Dominion at any time. . In conversation with a "Post" representative to-day, however, the Minister j for the Cook Islanda (the Hon. Sir Apiraua Ngata) pointed out 'that the quantities of tomatoes entering New Zealand ports from . the Cook Islands during November and December were very small, the actual figures for the past two years being as follows: — 192S ...,.. x ■' 24 eases 1929 ..: .... 38 -cases j a total of 62 bases out of a yearly: export of — > I 1928 50,754 cases 1929 52,682 cases Nov., 192S .... 1,104 ciases Dec, 1929' .... 3,06S cases 4,172 cases . During the months of November and December the Wellington retail prices of hothouse tomatoes are seldom below 2s 6d a-pound, and more often 3s a pound, while the Barotongan tomatoes are valued (for Customs export purposes) at 3s Gd a pound. The Islands supply tomatoes to New Zealand markets, therefore, at a very reasonable figure during a period when the price of the Now Zealand-grown article is prohibitive exeopt to the privileged few. With regard to the question of the danger of introduction of the. Mediterranean fruit fly into New Zealand, this fly (Ceratitis Capitata) does not now nor has it ever been know to exist in the Cook Islands. The only fruit fly known in the Cook group is Dacus Melanotus, which has a longer life cycle than that of the Mediterranean fly. It has never been known to 'attack tomatoes during the sixteen years that this fruit has been grown in the group, nor has it ever been known to live for any length of time in a temperate climate. Further, oranges are particularly susceptible to this fly, and although orange shipments have been imported into New Zealand for very many years, and before any fruit inspection was imposed on this fruit, the Dacus Melanotus lias not established itself in New Zealand.

The question of the introduction' of the Cook Islands-fruit fly to New Zealand has been closely investigated by the Agriculture Department in New" Zealand, and its introduction to the Dominion is not considered a menace. It is also pointed out that the tomato industry has been established in Karotonga for fifteen years, and the industry has become-an important part of the exports from the group. A large sum has been invested by growers in clearing and preparing from heavy , bush suitable areas of land, artificial manures and implements have been imported at very much higher prices than are paid in. New Zealand; the cases are more costly, on account of the heavy ocean freight; and the infrequeucy of steamer calls .prevents the grower from exporting a considerable portion of his crop. "It will be .seen, therefore," said the Minister, "that any restriction on tho Cook Islands tomato trade would be in tho interests of neither the Islands themselves nor the general public of New Zealand. Further, when the Cook Islands became an integral portion, of New Zealand the fiscal autonomy of the Islands was surrendered to this Dominion, and there canbe no justification for imposing restrictions on imports from the Cook Islands any 'more than there caii be justification for restricting the importation into the North Island of Now Zealand of mutton from Canterbury or oysters from Stewart Island."