JAPANESE ONIONS BOYCOTT

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 13

JAPANESE ONIONS BOYCOTT

SHIPMENT ARRIVES TO-DAY FATE DOUBTFUL [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 21. A shipment of between 700 and 800 tons of Japanese onions, which are being imported by the Internal Marketing Division for distribution throughout New Zealand, is duo by the Naniwa Maru to-morrow. A definite decision fo boycott the onions has been made by Chinese fruiterers, while the Auckland Master Grocers’ Association has pledged itself to endeavour to secure the support of all merchants to refuse to handle the shipment. The consignment is made up of brown onions packed in the customary wooden crates, and the price to storekeepers has been fixed at 22s a crate. A small shipment of Californian onions also will be made available by the Internal Marketing Division on Monday at approximately 24s a bag. Local onions are coming on the market more freely at about 2ls per cwt, so that there should be no shortage of supplies. The fate of the Japanese onions in Auckland is very doubtful, but the public will not suffer as there will be plenty of local and Californian available. It is understood that no further shipments from Japan are contemplated. While Japanese onions are being imported into New Zealand, a further shipment left Wellington for Australia by the Awatea to-day. The apparent inconsistency is due to the fact that because of the droughts and bush fires in Australia earlier in the year orders were placed in New Zealand some time ago, and growers are still complying with their contracts made at that time. Large shipments have been leaving the Dominion for the Commonwealth on practically every vessel since the beginning of the year. RAILWAYMEN ENDORSE BAN WELLINGTON, July 21. - The Hutt branch of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association last night unanimously resolved to express appreciation of the action of the Chinese greengrocers in ■ refusing to handle Japanese onions _ and publicly conveying congratulations to the Chinese Consul on the solidarity and patriotism of his countrymen and assuring full support and co-operation.