EMBARGO IMPOSED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 17, 17 December 1932, Page 7

EMBARGO IMPOSED

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. SUPPLIES FROM AUSTRALIA. CONSTERNATION IN COMMONWEALTH. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received December 17, 10.55 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 17. The Herald’s Canberra correspondent says: “The action of tho New Zealand Government in imposing a prohibition on the importation of fresh fruit and vegetables from Australia is likely to cause serious concern to the Commonwealth. The opinion in official circles is that the action was taken in an endeavour to obtain the removal of tho Australian prohibition on fruit from New Zealand. It is understood that the New Zealand Government has been discussing the matter with the Commonwealth Government for several months, and it made strong representations for lifting tho embargo and even hinted, it is believed, at retaliatory action.” Federal officers emphasised that Australia is most willing to meet New Zealand’s requests if it is possible to do so.

The Director-General of Health, Dr. Cumpston, stated that the New Zealand authorities had shown themselves to be under the impression that the embargo' was being perpetrated for economic reasons, but the prohibition was imposed and continued solely with the object of preventing fireblight. Tho Telegraph’s Canberra correspondent says: “Strong representations will be made to New Zealand for tho removal of the embargo. Tho Commonwealth cannot afford ro lose the £200,000 of trade annually involved, and it is stated officially chat, if New Zealand remains adamant, the Federal Cabinet will have to consider whether other action is open to it to regain the position. It is admitted that the step taken by the Dominion has created a delicate situation, one which might easily lead to moves and countermoves of a kind the very reverse to those contemplated by the Ottawa Agreements.”

BLOW TO CITRUS INDUSTRY. Received December 17. 10.55 a.m. MELBOURNE, Dec. 17. Consternation is expressed by representatives of the citrus growers at the embargo. The secretary of the Federal Citrus Council, Mr Parkes, said that the embargo came as a great blow to the citrus industry as New Zealand is practically the only profitable outlet for Australia’s surplus citrus fruit.

SERIOUSLY PERTURBED. SYDNEY. Dec. 16. The Canberra correspondent of the Sun says that the Federal Government is seriously perturbed at tho New Zealand Government’s action in- placing an embargo on Australian, fruit and vegetables, which trade is worth £200,. 000 to Australia. The point now under consideration is whether the danger of fireblight from New Zealand is outweighed by the economic loss caused by the Dominion’s drastic action. The Director-General of Health, Dr. Cumpston, stresses that Australia would bo most willing to meet New Zealand’s wishes if possible. He adds that the prohibition against fireblight is applied to all countries in which fireblight is reported, RECORD SHIPMENTS. SYDNEY, Dec. 16. The Zealandia and Marama took record shipments of fruit to-day in order to avoid the New Zealand embargo. IMPORTER’S OPINION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. “Personally, I think the Government has gone too far,” said a prominent importer when invited to discuss the effect of tho Australian embargo. “It seems that the embargo will cause a famine in citrus fruits, which cannot possibly come from any country but America if the embargo is continued. He will be a bra.ve man who will continue importing from America. A boa"t is just about to leave there for New Zealand and it is highly improbable that shipments by that vessel can be arranged for in time. Apart from transport costs, there is the high cost of conversion. Naturally, any American fruit has to be sold at a high price and, consequently, it has a limited market. It seems to me that the Government is paving too much attention to the talk of some small growers. In saying that, it has to be remembered that factories have been importing pulp and will continue to import it to the detriment of raspberries and similar fruits. Pulp will still be admitted, so that the embargo will not benefit the small growers. The point is important. Supposing we have an outbreak of influenza or some such epidemic, where are our citrus fruits to come from?”

OFFER FROM UNITED STATES,

Per Press Association. DUNEDTN, Dec. 17. This morning a leading produce merchant received a cablegram from the United States as follow: —“In view of the Dominion embargo on Australian fruit, are you ordering Californian?” The replv was: “In view of America’ s attitude to England, we certainly will not.” ... . The local retailers have so far not considered the action to be taken.

LAST YEAR’S IMPORTS.

On last year's figures New Zealand imports a substantial quantity of fruit from Australia. The figures for 1931

nro ns follow:

are as ioiiow : — Weight. Value. lbs. £ 30 — 55,936 729 60,919 2,456 174,517 4,068 1,146,537 9,674 Mandarins and grapefruit 1,880,903 13,727 9,854,505 99,164 99,622 2,605 12,703 100 586,274 6,055 82 1 157,777 2,350