THE FRUIT TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22730, 16 November 1935, Page 24

THE FRUIT TRADE

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l quite agree with ' Fruitgrower," and sympathise with him over Sis small margin of profit. Why should he give cases in and get so little for his fruit? In many cases the fruitgrower is a returned soldier who is not fit for other work; he works hard all the year protecting his trees against gales, frosts and disease; he gazes with pride at last on his apples and pears guarded so jealously; he never thinks they will finally be polished by a Chinese and sold at 2d per lb. Yes, the grower does receive my sympathy. I too, have to depend on his labours and d'o not object to being charged for cases; but what I do object to is the present Government allowing so many Chinese into our countrv to drive men and women out of work, the country which our pioneer fathers and mothers worked so hard to make—Chinese with their opium smoking and dirty habits, who sleep almost beside the fruit they sell. " Fruitgrower s small profits nave been brought about by these Chinese m their endeavour to oust the white retailers, who in many cases are returned soldiers trying to rehabilitate themselves honestly, and not to be a burden on the community or the Returned Soldiers Association —and association which does not seem to care much when certain members of its committee are habitual customers of these Oriental shops. . Perhaps our Labour members of parliament will take up the immigration question as a catch-vote plan. An English chemist film is not allowed to start in Dunedin to give us cheap prescriptions, yet these Chinese cau come here and run the town, which shows there is one law for the rich and another for the poor.— I am, etc., _ , A Returned Soldier Retailer b Dunedin, November 14. Wife.

[The law affecting the immigration of Chinese has been in operation for over 50 years. Subject to the observance ot its provisions, the Government cannot prevent the entrance of Chinese into the Dominion. Members of the Labour Party, being internationalists, have never argued that the law is ineffective or that Chinese should be excluded from New Zealand. One member of the Labour Party, indeed, expressed concern during the recent session because the law contains clauses which, he said, are "extremely offensive to Chinese people." A legislative prohibition of Chinese immigration is impossible. Our correspondent's reference to there being one law for the rich and another for the poor seems tobe founded on a misapprehension. The English nrnr which, she Bays, is not allowed to °pen up business in Dunedin is one or the wealthiest of British commercial concerns.—Ed. O.D.T.] TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—lt is common knowledge thatthe fruitgrowers of Otago have had a bad spin B for a number of years owing to the depression, frosts, and London slumps. We have now had a good year, however, and hope has risen in our hearts; but, alas! here comes another evil to contront us. The Dunedin Fruit Brokers' Association, at the instigation of the members of the Retailers' Association (ot whom about half are foreigners), have actually come out to our orchards m their motor cars to tell us that they have passed a resolution that they will not handle our fruit unless we give the retailers our cases for nothing. ihe "U« is oura and the cases are ours, fcurely we have the right to instruct a licensed broker how to sell our fruit. 1 trust that the Chamber of Commerce or some influential body will come to the rescue and help to stop this tyrannical boycott. —I am. etc., Otago Fruitgrower.