Japanese Onions To be Boycotted

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 4

Japanese Onions To be Boycotted

NO FURTHER SHIPMENTS CONTEMPLATED 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 due by the Naniwa Maru to-morrow. A definite decision to boycott the onions has been made by the 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 bo 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 21s per cwt., so that there should be no shortage of supplies. Tho 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. A further shipment left Wellington for Australia by the Awatea to-day. The apparent inconsistency is due to the fact that, because of tho droughts aud busk fires iu Australia earlier in the year, orders were placed in New Zealand some time ago, aud. 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.

CHINESE GREENGROCERS CONGRATULATED WELLINGTON, July 21. The Hutt branch of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association last night unanimously expressed appreciation of the action of tho Chinese greengrocers in refusing to handle Japanese onions and publicly expressed congratulations to the Chinese Consul ou the solidarity and patriotism of his countrymen, and assured full support and co-operation.