CITRUS FRUITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21998, 6 July 1933, Page 12

CITRUS FRUITS

EMBARGO ON AUSTRALIA REPLY FROM MINISTER FURTHER ACTION TO BE TAKEN Last week a deputation representing the fruitbrokers and retailers of the city waited upon the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to protest against the embargo on Australian citrus fruits and, as a result, the chamber communicated with the Minister of Agriculture (Mr C. E. Macmillan) asking him to make the position clear. The following reply was received from the Minister yesterday:— “Referring to your telegram of June 29, I regret that owing to my absence a reply has been delayed. The reason for the Australian embargo may be summarised as follows: In view of the necessity for finding alternative markets for produce, including fruit and vegetables, prolonged efforts were made to gain entrance into the United States markets, but the authorities there refused on the grounds that we admitted fruit from countries where the Mediterranean fruit fly existed, Australia being the principal country involved. We had also to consider the risk to our own citrus and soft fruit culture of the Mediterranean fly becoming established in the Dominion. As a result of placing the embargo on Australian fruit, negotiations with the United States Government have made most satisfactory progress and further action is now being taken to satisfy the requirements of the United States. This action appears certain to enable negotiations to reach a completely successful conclusion. I regret the tempprary difficulty through the citrus shortage, suid I am looking into this. I feel confident that the advantages resulting from the Government’s action will far outweigh this temporary trouble, especially as this commencement of further fruit export trade with the States may indirectly open the way to other'export developments.”

The matter was discussed further at a meeting of the executive of the chamber yesterday afternoon, and it was considered that the Minister’s reply was not satisfactory. It was decided to press for the lifting of the embargo and to solicit the support of the other Chambers of Commerce in the Dominion. “NO MODIFICATION."

The Otago Retail Fruiterers’ Association has been in communication with its agents in the Commonwealth regarding the embargo, and the secretary (Mr H. A. Ncwall) has received the following cablegram, which is a copy of a telegram from the Commonwealth Minister of Agriculture (Mr Stewart) to the Citrus Fruit Growers’ Association at Berri, South Australia: — “ Latest advices from Mr J. G. Coates indicate that he definitely declines to consider even a partial modification until negotiations with America have been completed. Sir Massy Greene states that the embargo has no relation to the Commonwealth ban on New Zealand potatoes.” The secretary of the Berri organisation has cabled to Mr Newall stating that it is considered by the Citrus Fruit Growers’ Association that early shipments will depend upon a strong effort to move the New Zealand Government by means of public influence.