WHY ORANGES AND MANDARINS ARE DEAR IN N.Z.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 5 October 1936, Page 7

WHY ORANGES AND MANDARINS ARE DEAR IN N.Z.

THE CASE FOR NEW SOUTH WALES (To The Editor) Sir, —Since December, 1932, when New Zealand placed an embargo on all Australian fresh fruits the consumer in New Zealand has had to pay very high prices for Oranges and Mandarins. These prices range for most of the year from 2s to 4s per dozen for oranges and Is to 2s Gd per dozen for mandarins. In August. 1933, Now Zealand agreed to accept oranges I from South Australia on a quota basis, and each year since, that State has been allowed to send oranges and mandarins on the same basis. South Australian Navels and Seedling oranges are available from June until September and perhaps October, while a small quantity of Late Valencia oranges is available from that State in October and November and perhaps December. Meagre supplies of mandarins arc available from June to September. New South Wales, however, is the largest Citrus producing state in the Commonwealth, being responsible for 85 per cent, of the Mandarins and 62 per cent, of the oranges grown in Australia. Navel oranges and seedlings can be shipped from New South Wales from May until September, and Late Valencia oranges from September until March. With the very large quantities available, New South Wales growers are prepared to supply the whole of the requirements of New Zealand from May until the following March at prices so that oranges could he purchased by the consumer at from Is to 2s per dozen. The quality of the fruit is so well known to the New Zealand public that it needs no comment. In the case of mandarins, New South Wales is also in a position to more than supply all requirements at prices that would enable the retailers to sell at from Gd to Is per dozen. The quality of this fruit is at least equal to, if not superior to, that grown in any part of the world. At the present time New Zealand depends for its supplies of oranges from December until March on high priced fruit from the U.S.A. and the West Indies, while ample supplies of choice quality fruit are available in New South Wales only a few days away, and which could- thus be landed in a fresh condition. The beneficial effect of citrus fruits in the dietary of both children and adults is well known to New Zealanders, due in a large measure to the efforts of the late Dr. Truby King. With the present high values many people are not in a position to purchase, while in other cases if oranges are purchased, the consumer is denied the benefit of other fruits through lack of funds, the whole of the money available for fruit having been expended. The embargo was placed by New Zealand on the grounds of the danger of the introduction of Mediterranean Fruit Fly. It should be borne in mind that New Zealand has imported fruit from New South Wales for over 50 years. Fruit Fly has been known to exist in New South Wales for about 40 years, and the fact that fruit was imported during that time and the Fly has not become established in the Dominion seems to indicate that the precautions taken have been entirely satisfactory. It is considered that the climate of New Zealand is not suitable for the establishment of the Fly. The Australian and New South Wales Governments have power and are willing to enforce regulations that will prevent infected fruit from being shipped and that this can be done, and New Zealand therefore amply safeguarded, is confirmed by resolution passed at a Conference of Pathologists, Entomologists and other scientific officers held at Canberra in June, 1934, and at which New Zealand was represented by Dr. G. H. Cunningham. The question of the balance of trade has been raised at times and in this connection it should be pointed out that a very much improved quantity of oranges could be imported from New South Wales for the same amount of money that is now being spent overseas in obtaining the present supplies. In requesting permission to import oranges’and mandarins into New Zealand, the growers of New South Wales have no desire to flood the market with cheap fruit or to enter into competition with similar fruits that may be grown locally or imported from the Cook Islands, but are desirous of participating in any quota that may be permitted by New Zealand in ordei to supply the requirements of the New Zealand markets. The continuance of the embargo not only deprives the growers of New South Wales from enjoying the friendly business lela tionships that existed for so many years, but it also deprives the New Zealand public from securing ample supplies of fruit at reasonable prices. Signed on behalf of the Citrus Industry of New South Wales by—Jas. Hearne, president, E. E. Herrod, secretary, Fruitgrowers’ Federation of New South Wales, H Bligh street, Svdnev. P- S. Macdermott, general secretary, New South Wales Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries, 215 Thomas street, Sydney chairman, Fruit Section, Sydney’ Chamber of Commerce.