THE FRUIT EMBARGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21994, 1 July 1933, Page 11

THE FRUIT EMBARGO

EFFECT IN , AUSTRALIA STATEMENT BY MINISTER (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 30. (Received June 30, at 11 p.m.) At the fruitgrowers’ conference Mr E H. Stewart, Federal Minister of Commerce. answering criticism relative to the Government’s failure to have the fruit embargo lifted, said: “ This New Zealand embargo may prove a blessing in disguise if it forces us to seek new markets. I am already negotiating with the Canadian Pacific Railway in order to secure concessions which will enable Australian growers of citrus fruits to exploit the Eastern Canadian provinces, where a valuable potential market exists. The negotiations so far have been very satisfactory. I have been informed that the American Government notified the New Zealand Government that it would not permit the importation of fruit from any country where the Mediterranean fly was known to exist, as in parts of Australia, so that New Zealand’s prospects of developing a large fruit trade with America were net so bright as they were a few weeks ago. It may bo a hard thing to say, but we hope New Zealand’s efforts fail, after which she will be in a more amenable mood to consider our case.” Mr Stewart agreed to arrange a deputation to the Prime Minister on the subject of making further efforts to have the embargo lifted. Sir Massy Greene, replying to a question in the Senate at Canberra to-day, said : “ The New Zealand Government is discussing with the American Government the extent to which it would be possible for the Dominion to admit citrus fruits from certain districts in Australia which are not affected by the Mediterranean fruit fly and yet retain its right to export fruit to America.”

DEPUTATION TO MR LYONS.

CANBERRA, June 30.

(Received July 1, at 0.15 a.m.) The New Zealand Government has informed the Commonwealth Government that it is not prepared to discus# the removal of the embargo until the negotiations between New Zealand and the United States have been concluded. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) to-day received a fruitgrowers’ deputation, and assured it that the Cabinet next week would consider the whole position and treat the embargo matter as very urgent.