FRUIT IMPORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1934, Page 2

FRUIT IMPORTS

GROWERS’ OPPOSITION. [PXB PRESS association.] 1 — WELLINGTON, September 13. Opposition to any'attempt to lift the embargo on Australian fruit was expressed in the remits carried by the conference of New Zealand Fruit Growers’ Federation. The danger of the introduction of. Oriental peach moth, and various types of fruit fly and thrip was stressed. As orchardists must have security of permanent policy on which to build the fruit growing industry, it was agreed also that the Government should be asked to investigate the question of importations of canned afld dried fruits from Australia, which were believed to be subsidised, and canned and dried fruits and jams from South Africa. It waS stated that these were very seriously handicapping the expansion of the industry both primary and secondary in New Zealand. AUSTRALIAN DENIAL. ADELAIDE, September 14. “It is regrettable that certain interests have seen fit to circulate unfounded reports of the quality and price of South Australian oranges,” said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Blesing), following a deputation of growers, who desired to contradict statements which had been made in New Zealand. Mr Blesing said:—“South Australia is free from the Mediterranean fly. It is incorrect to say that the South Australian monopoly of the export of oranges to New Zealand has made them excessively dear. Changes can only enter New Zealand up to the quota fixed by the New Zealand Government, and there inus't be some central control over there. All the growers can ship on a pro-rata basis, according to their production, provided the fruit is of the high quality needed for export.”

BRITAIN’S IMPORTS. LONDON, September 13. The Imperial Economic Committee’s report on canned fruit supplies in 1933 shows that Australia established a new record of imports of raisins and sultanas to the United Kingdom. These totalled forty-three thousand tons, by far the largest quantity from any individual country and formed nearly sixty per cent of the total supplies.