TOMATO PULP

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 34, 9 August 1934, Page 21

TOMATO PULP

AUSTRALIAN IMPORT

GROWERS PROTEST

LOWERING OF DUTY

"Tho deputation can rest assured .. that I will assist you to the best of ~ niy ability in seeing that tho duty is 0 retained; I don't know whether it t _ would not be wiser for you people to a ask for a stiffer duty," said tho Minister of Agriculture (tho Hon. C. E. Macmillan), when replying yesterday -, afternoon to a deputation of tomato L growers who protested against any re- ' moval of the duty on Australian tomato ■" Pulpf It was stated that tho manufacturers ~ of sauce and soups had requested a con- £ cession on tho duty of Australian pulp, as there was a shortage of New Zca- ■• laud pulp, but tho shortage was denied by the tomato growers. The growers also said that if there was a shortage, '_' it was due to tho lack of foresight of tho manufacturers. s The deputation was introduced by Mr. '. H. Atmoro (Independent, Nelson). ! There wore also present Messrs. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau), K. J. Holyoako (Government, Motueka), E. -F. x Healy (Government, Wairau), .H. T. 1 Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East), E. W. Hawke (Government, Kai--3 apoi), W. Nash (Labour, Hutt), W. H. 3 Field (Government, Otaki), H. G. R. t Mason (Labour, Auckland Suburbs), f Mrs. E. R. McCombs (Labour, LyttelI ton), and the Hon. W. Snodgrass, II M.L.C. s Mr. Atmore said that there had been ■ no shortage of tomatoes, as had been 3 suggested, and he road letters froni the s Nelson Tomato Growers' Association in i which it was stated that if there was ) a shortage of pulp it had been brought 3 about by lack of foresight on the part 3 of the factory. The growers contended I that the move was one to forco prices ) of sauco tomatoes down to the Ausi tralian level, and as there was a more . favourable climate in- Australia, it I would mean that tho competition would : not be equitable. Tomato growing - could bo carried out in Kew Zealand ; most successfully. Mrs. MeCombs said that year after ; year, and. particularly last year, large , quantities of tomatoes had not been ; sold. They were sent to the markets : and rejected. Last season tomatoes r could be bought at a very low priee_, ' and in the end tomatoes had had to be ; ploughed in. ! Mr. Snodgrass said that a shortage of ! tomatoes had not existed, and never did i exist. The growers did not know how , they were to bo treated, and wero made > fools of by the factory, and became'very disheartened. He contended that theconcessions wcro being asked for to push tho tomato growers further out ■of business. The fact that tho faci tories had refused to buy had tho result ■of placing tomatoes on tho market) - which should have gono to tho fao- . torics, and chaos had resulted. "NOT JUSTIFIED." Mr. Holyoako said that tho fact romaincd that thero could have been enough pulp in New Zealand; whether thero was enough, ho did not know. Thousands of tons of tomatoes could have been grown if the orders had boon given and some understanding come to between the growers and tho manufacturers. Ho agreed with tho statement that thero had been short-sightedness on the part of the manufacturers, and they wero not justified- in asking ,for concessions in tho Australian duty. The growers could always supply what was required, if they were notified of the requirements. Mr. Armstrong said that thero should be a reasonable amount of protection for the manufacturers, but tho manufacturers should be prepared to give tho same consideration to tho primary producers. Mr. Hawke said that there would have boon enough pulp to send ovorseas if the amount of tomatoes ploughed in had been pulped. Mr. Mason said that if tho manufacturers wero1 to import from Australia, they might import sufficient pulp to enable them to carry through tho next season, to the detriment of the growers. In that case, what encouragement would there bo for anyone to grow tomatoes'? Mr. Field said that, some years ago prices had been high, and "many families had been unable to buy tomatoes. Mr. Hcaly endorsed the protest, .and said he trusted that the tomato-growing industry was not going to be mado to suffer. MINISTER'S REPLY. Replying, tho Minister said that if tho concessions were granted, they might be permanent, and if that were' his interpretation of the request, the position was more serious, because it would then remain with the manufacturers to say whether local crops were purchased or not. He said he thought he could safely say to the Minister of Customs that there had boon no shortage. An investigation would disclose whether thero was a shortage now. He could not soo that the manufacturers had made a case at all.

Mr. Atmore: Is it"- necessary for us to go to Mr. Coates, or, will you state the case for us 3

Tho Minister said that if the Minister of Customs desired another deputation he (Mr. Macmillan) would lead it himself.