POTATO EMBARGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23202, 23 November 1938, Page 9

POTATO EMBARGO

AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDE STRONG SYDNEY PROTESTS "SELFISH PAROCHIALISM" [fiiom our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Nov. 18 The United -Australian Party con vention heartily agreed to a motioi that the .Federal Government slionlc he emphatically-informed that the con vontion considered that tlio cm barge 011 New Zealand potatoes, was lfbt ii the best interests of Australia Although one of the principal speakers Sir-Frederick Stewart, said, "Narrov parochialism is the only justification fo: the embargo," it is unlikely that tin Federal Government, dominated by tin Country Party, will bo much influencet by the convention's motion. Mr. J. Bryant, a delegate from ; citrus-growing district, who sponsorec the motion, said the excuse for tin embargo, that there was a danger o diseased potatoes entering Australia no longer existed. Nor was there an: danger of Australian prices beinj affected, because New Zealand potatoe; could not bo economically importec under £l3 or £l4 a ton. The scab disease was more prevalent ii Tasmania to-day than it was in Nev Zealand. Sir Frederick Stewart said tin national and parochial selfishness wai responsible for tho embargo. When hi was Minister of Commerce he was no satisfied with the reasons for tin embargo, and ho visited New Zealand "I brought back a tentative agreemeni needing only the signature on tin dotted line," ho said. "It gave Aus tralia a potential increase of £2o0,00( wortli of trade'with New Zealand, wliil< New Zealand would have benefited onlj by about £50,000. Only political tie velopmonts at the tinio prevented tin agreement being put into effect. A little' while ago local potatoes. wer< bringing £2O a ton and Australia! oranges in New Zealand were bringing 4s a dozen. We had a huge surplus.o oranges here, with a surplus of pota toes in New Zealand. The result was that consumers in both countries wen being bled white." Sir Frederick said that in 1934 h< had' called a conference of Australiar and New Zealand entomologists al Canberra, and they decided there was no longer any necessity for the restriction of orange exports to New Zealanc and New - Zealand potato exports tc Australia. Because of attitude, New Zealand had lost confident in the integrity of Australia, and ii was with difficulty that lie had sue ceeded in getting New Zealand repre sentation. FEED BARLEY IMPORTS GOVERNMENT CONTROL NO FURTHER PRIVATE PERMITS [BY TKT.F.GRAni —lUIESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday "For some time past considerable attention has been paid to the marketing of feed barley in New Zealand witl the object of assisting pig and poultrj producers to obtain adequate supplies for feed purposes and at the same time encouraging production within the Do minion," said the Minister of Market ing. the Hon. W. Nash, to-day. "Uj to.-the present the importation of feec barley has been regulated under j system of issuing permits to importer: who operated on their own account. "Experience gained in the adminis tration of this method of control ha: proved that an improvement could* hi effected by tho Government taking ovei tho responsibility ( of importation. Ii has been decided to transfer this function to tho Internal Marketing Divi sion, which will become the sole Dominion importer of barley for stocfc food purposes. As in tho past, however those merchants who have handled tin distribution of imported feed barle\ within the Dominion will continue tc do so, but instead of importing theii requirements under permit the Internal Marketing Division will undertake this work. "A number of permits have already been issued to merchants for Decembei shipments of barley," added the Minister, "and these will not be affectec by this alteration in« method, wliicl: virtually comes into operation on January 1, 1939. Tho issue of permits tc private importers will therefore be discontinued. It is felt that the step the Government is taking in this connection will enable a v measure of protection to bo given to producers of barlev in the Dominion and at tho same time enable the pig and poultry industries to acquire their supplies of imported feed barley under the best possible conditions." MACDUFFS, LIMITED "MANAGEMENT REORGANISED [BY TEIjEGIIAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Tuesday A scries of meetings of shareholder? and creditors of Macduffs, Limited, was completed .to-day when unanimouf confirmation was given to proposals foi the reorganisation of the management of the company. The majority of the directors have retired. Mr. Charles Todd, who retired eix months ago was reappointed a director and elected chairman of the board Messrs. Will Appleton, of Wellington, and T. N. Gibbs, of Christchurch, were also appointed to the board. Messrs. J. S. Land and W. J. Candy remain as directors. MARKETS IN LONDON LOWER PRICES FOR EGGS Tho Department of Agriculture ha; received the following cablegram fron tho High Commissioner for New Zea land, London, dated November 18: — Tallow. —Little more business is passing on spot; present spot quotations are unchanged. Hemp.—Tho Manila market is steady shippers offer sparingly; valuo "K' tirade November-January shipment £l9 10s. The sisal market, is. quiet, but steady; November-December shipmenl sold, £l6 15s; January-March shipment, £l7. ,ln Now Zealand thero is nothing to report. Eggs.—Tho market is weak witl] prices lower. English national mark, mediums, standards and specials, 19s 3d, 245; English ordinary pack, 15 tc 15j1b., 20s, 21s; Australian, 13 J tc Lib., I,os (id, 13s. New Zealand eggs, 3X Rangitanc, aro not cleared; a few sold at lower prices. Tho Wairangi ship ment has been put in cold store. ABRAHAM AND WILLIAMS "At tho annual meeting of shareholders of Abraham and Williams. Limited, Wellington, on Monday, the accounts were adopted and a dividend 'f 'H per cent declared, making 7 per ■ent for the year. The retiring'directors, Messrs. J. T. Martin and E. H. Biunev, tvero re-elected. Details of tho accounts were pubished in tho Herau> on November 10. BRADFORD MARKET LONDON, Nov. 21 The Bradford tops market is quiet nnd firm and is awaiting a lead trom the London wool sales^