CITRUS FRUIT EMBARGO

Evening Star, Issue 21786, 31 July 1934, Page 6

CITRUS FRUIT EMBARGO

“ PUT AM END TO THE FARCE ” CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S STRONG COMMENT ‘ A strongly-worded '"resolution protesting against the action of tlio Government in placing. ,an, embargo on Australian citrus fruits was passed, at last night’s meeting ot the council ot ; the Chamber of Commerce. ■ Reporting on the matter, Mr J. H. .Fairbairn said that the people, in the South Island in particular, were sintering from an acute shortage of the most necessary of all fruits. Poor people requiring oranges during the recent influenza epidemic could not 4 procure them on account of the -high prices. There was, moreover, loss df public revenue. Harbour .boards .were losing; harbour dues. Shipping companies were losing freight. Waterside workers were losing wages.:. There was loss of Wages to carriers. There were reduced earnings of whole-ale merchants and brokers and a consequent reduction of staffs. Retail fruit shops had had to close down everywhere for lack of supplies, thus depriving, largo numbers of employers and employees from carrying. on and obtaining employment in their trade. ■ « , The benefits of the embargo and the cause of the embargo were obscure to everybody except the Government. Possibly there might be some benefit to Islands trade and American citrus fruit growers who were able to have fruit transported to the North Island.SOUTH SUFFERS HEAVILY. The South lslan,d had been ' suffering intensely from" the Australian embargo. Shipments of rAmerican fruit had been made to the North, Island by the Monterey and Mariposa —both heavily-sub-sidised American steamers -b ll l fruit was. owing, to seamen’s differences, declared black by the watersiders, with the result . that the South Island received none of the fruit so much needed by the people in the south. Certain supplies of Island, oranges came to them from the ■- north, . but owing to the great deterioration . (as much as 50 per cent.) the sound fruit could not be sold except at high prices beyond tb,e low purchasing powers: of the mass of the people, who had needed; citrus' fruit. The whole trouble was that insidious Government interference had found its way into the fruit trade, with tlie usual result that a further Handicap had been placed on an already harassed trade and business. If the principal reason for the enibargo was the hope that America might take their surplus apples, and must be given certain advantages in,the way of securing further entry into 4 their trade for her - citrus fruit...theri they should he told the facts. AMERICAN APPLE MARKET. “ We do not believe that the United States will prove a market for any sub-

stautial quantities of New Zealand apples,” aded Mr Fairbairn. “Even if a trade in apples were eventually secured in the States, we say that the consuming people of this dominion must not be compelled to pay the heavy prices for American citrus fruits. For such benefits the people can pay too dearly in the, matter of money and health. “ We read that the Government Canadian Trade Commissioner has visited Jamaica, ami we learn that supplies of citrus -fruit ;will bo ’'-coming from Jamaica ' ini' November, with further shipments later. Here, again, what export trade benefits arc we likely to secure? If any arc likely to eventuate wc should be .informed, as it is clear that oranges carried from Jamaica will land at a heavy cost, and after being stored in cool ..chambers in vessels will hot keep. There is little possibility of oiir people securing cheap fruit from this source.

■ “ There are great surplus supplies of Australian oranges and lemons avaih able at very low prices, and Australian oranges for flavour arc among the world’s best. There are reasonably good direct shipping facilities between Sydney, Melbourne, and the South Island ports, and if the embargo were lifted very large quantities of the best Australian fruit could be sold bore at low prices, and the masses of the people could secure much-needed supplies at prices well within their modest means, “it may be argued that some protection is required in the interests of the North Island citrus fruitgrowers. We say that New Zealand lemons are not of” high quality, and do not compare with the Australian lemons in quality. Further, New Zealand lemons are expensive to buy in onr market today. AVe suggest that the New Zealand citrus trade is not of sufficient importance to the dominion to warrant an embargo on Australian supplies. “ H the embargo on New Zealand potatoes is olio of the reasons lor retaliation, we say that it is no valid excuse. New, Zealand potatoes could not be exported to Australia last year nor this year owing to the low prices ruling there.- We ask why we should import United States fruit at high prices where our sister dominion can supply our needs at exceptionally low prices. Inquiries by cable from Adelaide elicit the reply that shippers there are ready to ship, but that further political complications have arisen to delay matters. * “ Inquiries ihadc throughout the Australian States elicit the fact that there is no disease in South Australia, and verv little (if any) in Victoria. This, then, can he no valid reason for a continued enibargo. A MEAGRE ALLOWANCE. “ After the application of considerable pressure we are informed by the Hon. Mr Coates that he lias given permission to import 3,000 cases of Australian fruit for the South Island. As business men, and as members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, whose business it is to . protect the interests of business in particular and the interests of our people as a whole, wo must ask why Government permission must be obtained for the carrying on of the fruit industry—as carried on prior tc the embargo being effected. Three

thousand cases will not go far to meet the needs of the people throughout the South Island. “ Why are_ we not informed of the facts concerning this incomprehensible position? Our members of Parliament nave been urged to bring pressure in certain quarters, but so far with litth avail. It is time that-we demanded that the Government take its hands off the fruit trade and allow the people to obtain what is essential for their health at prices within their power to pay. The trade can well cater for t-li people if loft without political interference. As a Chamber of • Commerce, we must stand behind those engaged ithe business and demand that, the farce be ended, and that the Government bi asked to state its reasons for the embargo, which has brought suffering to our people during the last throe years since the import of Australian fruh was prohibited.” Mr Fairbairn then moved—” That the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce maintains that the Australian citrus fruit embargo has brought gross economic loss to the whole dominion, and to the South Island in particular, ami requests that, in the interests of the people’s health, and for business reasons generally, the embargo should be lifted completely, and at once. That this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister, and a copy sent to all Chambers of Commerce throughout the South Island asking for united support, and also to nil South Island members of Parliament requesting them to take uni tod action in the interests of the people.” NO SATISFACTION, Mr H. A. Newall (secretary of the Retail Fruiterers’ Association) outlined present marketing conditions, stating that tbo prohibitive prices put on citrus fruits wore clue to the high reserves asked by North Island agents. Mr Newall criticised the condition of the Cook Islands oranges, and said that the South Island was starving for citrus fruit, it being impossible to send oranges to tlio country districts. It was not fair to allow only 3,000 cases to cross the Tasman when the boat could have carried from 15,000 to *20,000 cases. Ho had received no satisfaction from the Prime Minister or from any of their members of Parliament. The Chairman (Mr IV. H. Brent): The position, from the health point of view, is scandalous. Oranges should be available at a price which the poorest people can pay. As matters arc, the prices are prohibitive. The motion was carried.