EXPORT OF ONIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23706, 13 January 1939, Page 3

EXPORT OF ONIONS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER GOVERNMENT TAKES CONTROL MARKET IN AUSTRALIA (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. The exportation of any onions, save with the consent of the Minister of Customs, is prohibited as from to-morrow. An Order-in-Council to this effect appears in tonight’s Gazette. The following statement was issued bv the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin):—“ln norma] years the Victorian onion crop is sufficient for all Australian requirements and permits of an exportable surplus. This year, owing to drought conditions, the Victorian yield has been so reduced that the crop will be barely sufficient for Victoria’s own needs, and the Sydney and Brisbane markets will have to rely to a very large extent upon importations. “ New Zealand merchants have already booked orders for Sydney at very attractive prices, and it is not intended to legitimate business in this direction. The Onion Marketing Advisory Committee, however, considers it eminently desirable that only high grade and suitably-packed produce should be shipned. as it is hoped in this way to facilitate the development of a trade to the full extent of our normal annual surplus in the early part of the season. Action, therefore. has been taken to secure control of the export trade, and merchants should apply to the Department of Agriculture at the port of shipment in the first instance for permits. It is not necessary to procure a permit in respect of ships’ stores of shipments to the Pacific Islands.”