FRUIT FROM AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21540, 11 July 1933, Page 8

FRUIT FROM AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALAND EMBARGO DEPUTATION URGES LIFTING [BY TKLEGUArn —OWN COIUIESrONDEXT] "WELLINGTON, Monday A deputation representing the retail fruiterers of Wellington waited on tho acting-Prime Minister, the lit. lion. ,T. G. Coat.es, to-day, in regard to tho embargo on tho importation of Australian citrus fruits, which has been in operation since December of last year. Mr. W. Hatch presented a petition signed by 128 retail fruiterers in Wellington. Ho said it would bo conceded that an ample supply of citrus fruits at reasonable prices was desirable from tho health point of view, but ho ventured to say that thero wero thousands of Now Zealand children who had not tasted an orange this winter. There had been a considerable increase this year in tho prieo of oranges, lemons, grapefruit, Hawaiian pineapples, passion fruit and mandarins.

They had often heard tho cry, "Trade within'tho Empire," but in tho caso of citrus fruits they wero excluding the produce of Australia to tho benefit of America. So long as tho embargo operated they would bo dependent on America for their supplies of citrus fruits. Tho Cook Islands wero not in a position to satisfy New Zealand's demand for oranges. Mr. D. Elliott said it was not correct to say that there was no shortage of lemons at present. American citrus fruits were being forced on New Zealand and it would bo disastrous if Now Zealand experienced another epidemic of influenza- while tho fruit trade was in its present position-. American fruitwas carried on American subsidised ships, whereas tho importation of Australian fruit provided cargoes for Now Zealand ships. Increased importations of Australian fruit would assist in dealing with the unemployment situation. If the embargo wero not lifted a large number of retailors would find it impossible to continue in business. in his reply, Mr Coates stated that tho question of tho fruit embargo was still under negotiation and ho regretted that no definite statement could bo made at present.