EMBARGOES ON EXPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22247, 23 October 1935, Page 14

EMBARGOES ON EXPORTS

"PLAYTHING OF POLITICS" TRADE OFFICIAL'S COMMENT AUSTRALIA AND POTATOES [by TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HASTINGS, Tuesday A comment upon what he described as pseudo-political embargoes on oxports, with special reference to the Australian embargo against New Zealand potatoes, was made in an address to the Hastings Chamber of Commerce by Mr. R. H. Nesbitt, Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. Mr. Nesbitt said it was a matter for regret that the principle of tho embargo, which was fitted only for scientific treatment, should be made the plaything of' politics. The fault in that respect lay on both sides of the Tasman. For example, tho constituents of a certain Australian politician might say, "Let Now Zealand potatoes in and out you go." Tho price of potatoes in New Zealand last week, said Mr. Nesbitt, was such that Australian potatoes could have been shipped from Sydney to New Zealand and have under-sold the local product. During tho past five years tho averago prico in Sydney had not been beyond £5 10s a ton, but in certain months in certain years tho price had risen as high as £23 a ton. It was then that New Zealand growers said they ought to havo the right to ship to Australia. Tho Australian growers' attitude was that thoy carried the market when it was low and therefore thoy were entitled to it when it was high. Actually tlie cost of shipping to Australia, according to recent quotation, was £5 7s a ton. In Australia there were 110,000 acres of potatoes planted every year. So far as could be ascertained production was 400.000 tons and consumption about 395,000 tons, so there was a surplus of approximately 5000 tons a year. That was why Australia said she did not want New Zealand potatoes.