ORANGE EMBARGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23702, 9 January 1939, Page 5

ORANGE EMBARGO

LACK OF FREE MARKET MINISTER’S CLAIM CONTESTED (Special to Daily Times' WELLINGTON, Jan. 8. Those concerned in the sale of fruit in New Zealand contest a recent statement by the Minister of Marketing (Mr W. Nash) that the embargo on the importation of oranges from Australia has been lifted. What the public does not know, they say. is that there is to-day no free market for the merchants in the importation of oranges from Australia. The whole business has been taken over by the Internal Marketing Department of the Government, which imports the oranges and releases auantities of them for sale on commission.

Therefore, they contend that it was misleading for Mr Nash to say that the embargo had been lifted and that as the result of Government action people were purchasing oranges cheaper than ever before. As a matter of fact, they argued that facts proved that the reverse was the case. “ Will Mr Nash inform the public when the embargo was lifted.” said one interested in the business yesterday. “If it was lifted, how is it that no merchnat in New Zealand is allowed to import oranges from Australia to-day? If the embargo was lifted, how is It that growers in Australia are not permitted to export the fruit they wish to. and what New Zealand requires? As a matter of fact, there is for the first time in the history of New Zealand no free market. We have to accept what the Internal Marketing Department offers, and sell on commission.

“ What we would like to know is what amount of profit the department has made on the importation of oranges since it took ever the trade, for with our knowledge of the price of oranges in Australia and the landed cost here we know that it must have been something pretty considerable. “I will go as far as to say." he said. “ that_ if the Government will restore the right of merchants to Import oranges from Australia as in the past we will guarantee that the public will oo , a i^ e *° P urc^a se them at least 33 1-3 per cent, cheaper than they are being sold to-day.”