FRUIT EMBARGO

Evening Star, Issue 21354, 7 March 1933, Page 7

FRUIT EMBARGO

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CANBERRA, March. 6. (Received March 7, at 1 a.m.) Arising out of the New Zealand Government’s ‘invitation to the Commonwealth Government to send a Minister to the dominion to discuss the embargo on Australian fruit, the Federal Cabinet to-night sent an undertaking to New Zealand that if, the embargo on fruit was withdrawn a conference would be arranged at the earliest date with the New Zealand Government for the purpose of reviewing the trade relations between the two countries. STATEMENT BY MR LYONS. RETURN TO STATUS QUO SUGGESTED. CANBERRA, March 7. (Received March 7, at 1 ,p.m.) Mr Lyons, in a statement, referring to New Zealand’s invitation to send a Minister to the dominion to discuss the question of New Zealand’s embargo on Australian fruit, said the position, in Australia was that all Ministers dealing with trade and commerce were members of the House of Representatives, and as this House this week begins discussion on the complete tariff schedule, which would require the whole of their attention for some months, it was not practicable for any of them to leave the Commonwealth at present. A conference between Ministers was not likely to be fruitful unless it was preceded by careful preparation, and as pressure of public business in both dominions was an obstacle to this ' preparation being made at present, he suggested for the consideration of the New Zealand Government that in the ultimate interests of both dominions it would be wise to restore the status quo. In the opinion of the Commonwealth Government this course would make for good feeling and would help towards a solution of what wore really mutual problems.