ONIONS TO CANADA

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1934, Page 14

ONIONS TO CANADA

MARKET FOR SURPLUS

GROWERS SEEK ASSISTANCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, February 26,

A request that the Government should assist onion growers to find a market in Canada for their surplus produce was made to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters) by a deputation of 50 growers today. It was stated on behalf of the growers that every year there was a surplus of production, much of which had to go to waste. This year they expected a surplus of 1000 to 2000 tons, and growers asked for Government aid in sending the produce away. The growers offered to provide 1000 tons of onions and asked the Government to guarantee freight and sales charges, the onions to bo packed and graded to the satisfaction of the' Government. The Minister: That would be about £o a ton. A second suggestion made by the growers was that the'importation of onions below a certain selling price be prohibited and that a sliding scale of duties be introduced. The Minister: You havo the substantial duty of £4 a ton and an embargo on Australian, with freight, charges on top of that. In reply it was stated that onions were imported on orders from storekeepers at 16s to 18s per 1001b, while better local onions were on sale at 5s to 7s per 1001b. The Minister, replying, said that his department was not a spending department, but was equipped to help industry with advice. He would submit to Cabinet, however, the representations made to him. Ho thought that if onions were sent to Canada this year the venture would be a success. Ho advised the growers to combine and organise for the local market;