AUSTRALIAN FRUIT

Evening Star, Issue 18033, 29 July 1922, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN FRUIT

HO REDUCTION ON DUTY. LOCAL FRUITERERS' PROTEST. A meeting of fruiterers was held this morning to consider the revised tariff as now submitted to Padiament for its ratification, and it was pointed out that no provision had been made for a reduction of the present duty on citrus fruits and bananas imported into New Zealand from Australia. It was slated that the local Customs authorities had received no advice from Wellington as to a reduction, and that Dunedin fruiterers had been led to understand that the duty would be lifted when the tariff was revised. The following motion was carried: “That a strong request be made to the Minister of Customs to have the duty on i,iUns .rnits and ananas imported into the dominion rum. Australia immediately • removed, as the present excessive duty places om of no chief commodities of fruit beyond the reach of the average citizen, and this mooting fmther pledges itself to continually agitate until such duty has boon removed." The meeting also decided to request the South Island Fruit Brokers’ Association to forward their motion and recommendations to the Minister of Customs without a moment’s delay.