ATTEMPT TO BREAK TRADE DEADLOCK

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1936, Page 6

ATTEMPT TO BREAK TRADE DEADLOCK

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z. TO TRY AGAIN

POTATO AND ORANGE EMBARGOES

[Per Press Association. Copyright.! WELLINGTON, This Day. attempt to break the obdurate deadlock between Australia and New Zealand over retaliatory embargoes on potatoes and oranges is to be made by the two Governments concerned. Negotiations have been opened by the Commonwealth Government, and the New Zealand Ministry is willing to go thoroughly into the question with a view to arriving at a satisfactory settlement.

“We have received from the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr J. A. Lyons, a cable message asking us to discuss the New Zealand embargo on .Australian citrus fruit,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, “and we are perfectly willing to negotiate for a settlement of the old trade dispute. A full investigation of the question*- is in hand. We want to know all the details because there are many interests involved. .

Two Sides To Question.

“The Australian Minister of Commerce, Dr Earle Page, has been reported as having said in the Federal House of Representatives at Canberra the other day, that the - Commonwealth Government had entered into communication with the New Zealand Government to see what could be done to overcome the embargo placed by New Zealand on Australian citrus fruits.

“There are, of course, two sides to the embargo, just as there are to every story, and the other question in this trade difficulty is what can be done to overcome the embargo placed by the Australian Government on New Zealand potatoes?

“The balance of trade is in favour of Australia. Still, we are going to attend to the requirements of our people just the same, whether these needs are oranges or anything else. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, is investigating the situation, with a view to increasing the supplies of oranges from Australia

Other Points to be Considered.

“The general question, however, goes farther than meeting New Zealand’s immediate requirements in citrus fruit. Our own citrus orchardists also require consideration and there is the seasonal supply of oranges from New Zealand’s own tropical islands, where there is scope for a great development of citrus fruit production.

“Moreover, I have noticed in the Press, references to the possibilities * of extensive plantations of citrus trees in Northland, particularly in Kerikeri district.”

“Growers there and elsewhere in New Zealand are experiencing certain difficulties and disadvantages in the meantime but the citrus fruit industry is growing steadily. All these facts have to be taken into consideration, and the Government will look closely at everything before coming to any conclusive decision or hard and fast decision. In the meantime, the Government is ready and willing to negotiate with the Australian Government in the most friendly manner.”