IMPORTED APPLES AND GRAPES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7221, 9 January 1885, Page 5

IMPORTED APPLES AND GRAPES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.-—PRESS ASSOCIATION/! Dunedin, Thursday. . A deputation of fruit importers waited upon the Premier to-day. The first matter brought under notice was the question of compensation for loss of apples destroyed by the Government, in consequence of their being affected by the codlin moth. It was stated that, although the apples for Otago came from the same orchards as those for Auckland, some of the Auckland apples were ordered to be landed, while the whole of those for Otago were refused. As a consequence the apples had to be sent to Melbourne, entailing a loss of fifty per cent, on the actual cost to the importers. The Premier said the Government had no power to give compensation, but, if Parliament were approached, the claims of the fruit importers would no doubt "be carefully considered. The deputation next urged that Adelaide grapes be admitted to the colony. The prohibition had been imposed under the impression that Adelaide grapes were affeoted by disease, which was not the case. The Premier said be was surprised to learn that the importation of grapes from Australia had been prohibited for two years. He would at once communicate the deputation's wishes on this matter to Mr. Larnach, who bad charge of the Customs and Marine Department. The newspapers are wrong in saying that Mr. Larnach was Minister of Mines only, that was merely part of his duty.