IMPORTED BULBS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 106, 1 November 1933, Page 5

IMPORTED BULBS

OPPOSITION TO DUTY

CONFLICTING INTERESTS

Opposition to a proposal of the New Zealand Horticultural Trades Association that a duty of 25 per cent, be imposed, on all imported bulbs, except hyacinths and tulips, was expressed by Mr. H. A. Fox, director of Tanner Bros., and Mr. F. J. Brooker, of the Wellington Horticultural Society, before the Tariff Commission yesterday afternoon. Mr. Fox said that if, as had been asserted, a Dutch firm was offering bulbs retail, free of freight and exchange, such business was not likely to be successful, because all the bulbs would be out of season, on arrival, and the public would soon learn to leave them alone, apart from any inferiority claimed. In their wholesale bulb department, Tanner Bros, at present had orders in hand for supply in January, February, and March next of nearly 1,000,000 bulbs of various kinds. A large number of those bulbs. would have to be imported because, except in specific lines, it was impossible to buy sufficent stock anywhere in New Zealand. There were many definite highgrade strains which were procurable only from the owners of such strains outside New Zealand. Those owners were world suppliers, and their lines were available at competitive prices. If a duty were imposed, there was reason to believe that efforts Would be made to obtain control of stocks of certain New Zealand-grown bulbs, in> order that the parties interested might make much higher profits, said Mr; Fox. If; was submitted that such a duty would not be in the interests of the purchasing public, who would be compelled to pay much higher prices for New Zealand-grown as well as imported bulbs. , , Mr. Brooker said it was felt that the local nurseryman had such a big advantage by being on the spot, that no further protection should.be necessary. Another factor was that bulbs from Britain and Holland took two years to acclimatise. The Wellington Society felt that the Horticultural Trades Association did not always consider the public when fixing its prices, which were very much higlier now than.; they were years ago. If a. duty, of 25 per cent, were imposed, it followed that local prices would bo increased still further. Even now the public could not buy. as freely as should be the case, because of the high prices locally. ' ."There are thousands of amateurs in' New Zealand who specialise in gardening, and they should have free-

dom to import the best strains as freely as they wish," said Mr. Brooker. "Great numbers of these are unprocurable in New Zealand, and one has to import or buy imported stock to get the best. In the flower world improvements are taking place almost as rapidly as with wireless. If importations are restricted by a heavy duty it will be very detrimental to our progress. " ■ .