SHORTAGE OF ORANGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 November 1936, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF ORANGES

MAXIMUM PRICE FIXED ’ QUICK ACTION BY GOVERNMENT J (By Telegraph— Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. * A few hours after publicity had been given yesterday about the short- , age of oranges and the prospect of . famine prices, the Government had . secured an agreement with importers . and brokers for a retrospective maximum price for the Jamaican shipment ! and had fixed retail prices in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. , The needs of Auckland could not be . similarly dealt with, as its share of the | shipment ex-Matua had already gone into the consuming market. The Order-in-Council fixing the retail prices in the centres mentioned was quickly drafted by the Ministers concerned, and authority for its issue was obtained by a telegram from the Governor-General. The wholesale price was fixed by agreement with importers and brokers at a maximum of 32s 6d per case in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and a similar price elsewhere, plus the usual transport charges. The retail prices range from four to seven a shilling. LIFTING THE FRUIT EMBARGO NOT A SIMPLE MATTER WELLINGTON, This Day. Replying to a deputation seeking permits for larger importations of Australian oranges, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, said the lifting of the embargo on Australian fruit was not as simple a matter as some might imagine. The trade position between Australia and New Zealand had a great deal more to it than the question of oranges and potatoes. The trade balance between the two do-

minions was very much in Australia’s favour and trade relationships were not matters that could be tackled piece-meal by dealing with individual items. The matter could only be dealt with by negotiations between the two Governments and it was not desirable to enter into inter-Domin-ion trade discussions until after the Hon. W. Nash had concluded negotiations with Britain. It, therefore, had been impossible to enter into a general discussion on trade matters with Australia, but he knew from unofficial talks he had had with responsible Australian representatives that Australia realised that New Zealand had a strong case.