TOMATO INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 21 June 1926, Page 4

TOMATO INDUSTRY

IMPORTATIONS FROM RAROTONGA EMBARGO TO BE .ASKED FOR (From Our Parliamentary Correspondent) . • CHRISTCHURCH,' This Day. A request that an embargo be placed cn the importation of Rarotongan tomatoes during November and December is to lie made to the Prime Minister by : ocal growers. At a meeting of lomato growers nn Saturday nigllt it was decided to circulate a petition for signature. A letter was read from the Nelson Tomato Growers’ Association notifying they had decided to ask that island tomatoes be i not allowed into New Zealand during December a,nd January, the latter month being the close of the island season." At first the association had been inclined to ask for restriction on importation from November, but although local tomatoes came in about the middle of November the association did J not think prices were influenced so much island shipments were put on. Hie market in December, when there were large supplies of locally grown'. •" '

After considerable discussion as to the effects of competition; on local hothouse products -it was decided to present a petition to the Prime Minister praying for relief, and to notify other associations of the a'ction being taken. The petition directs attention to the enormous amount of capital involved in glasshouses (running well into sixfigures) and points out that owing to climatic conditions the T expended in forcing tomatoes is j. very great. It is recalled that during the premiership of Mr MaSsey lip was very sympathetic towards the local industry nnd that for several years no tomatoes came into New Zealand during November and December. The competition of cheap labour in the islands is referred to, and it is contended there is great probability of disease being introduced.