THE SUPPLY OF ORANGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22999, 30 September 1936, Page 6

THE SUPPLY OF ORANGES

TO HIE EDITOR. Sir, —The comments upon the question of the supply of oranges by Mr Stevens, Premier of New South Wales, in your issue of this morning are very much to the point, and deserve the attention of every reasonably-minded citizen. Coming from such a reliable authority the facts that are disclosed cannot be lightly disregarded. The value of citrus fruit from a dietary point of view, as advanced by Mr Stevens, cannot be disputed, and his close contact with the citrus industry in his own State and his knowledge of the prices ruling there and in New Zealand leave no reason for doubt that his statement of the position is correct. There is not the slightest doubt that, by Government restriction of trade, oranges, admittedly a necessary and vital part of the people’s diet, are still in the luxury class, and not fully available to the whole of the people. It is difficult to imagine why a Government which professes to be wholehearted in its determination to raise the standard of living of all the workers should perpetuate one of the major blunders of the past Government. A similar position exists as far as bananas are concerned, and the present restrictions in the way of quotas and embargoes are keeping this valuable food at a luxury level, and assisting private traders to make excessive profits at the expense of the public. We know the tremendous amount of work that has been performed by the Government in the revising of old, and i.i Introducing new, legislation for the advancement of the country, and we hope it will accomplish its highest ideals, but we believe some immediate results could be achieved by the res’cission of a few Orders-in-Council that have long hampered the trade of the Dominion and deprived the people of New Zealand of thousands of tons of oranges and bananas, which they are willing to buy and others are longing to supply.—l am. etc.. Anti-humbug. Dunedin, September 29.