EMBARGO ON POTATOES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 12

EMBARGO ON POTATOES.

&lEIMPOSED IN "AUSTRALIA.. 4 WELLINGTON, February 2. ' Potato growers and merchants will be Ijperturbed by the announcement that the ’Commonwealth Government'has decided Joreimposethe. embargo against New. Zealand potatoes as from '“'February 15. The of powdery scab is stated to be the reason. The matter.has been taken jup by the Government at the instance of the Hon. O. J. Hawken, and the following cable message was despatched by • Abe Hon. W. D. Stewart to the Australian jjPriine . Minister:—The Commonwealth Department has informed the Dominion's Agricultural Department that, Jawing to ;powdery scab disease in New .''Zealand, permission to import potatoes ijt>r food ■ purposes will be withdrawn as February 15. The effect; iof'thin ia Ufcractically to reinstate the embargo EAgainst the importation of New Zealand potatoes into Australia. My Government meets sure the Commonwealth: Government |jecognises as a-'general principle that .in utie interests of trade between Australia

and New Zealand it is most undesirable that such an embargo should apply unless for indisputably cogent reasons. In this case we are confident the existence here of the disease in question does not constitute'such a reason, Powdery scab affects only the skins of tubers, and does, not adverselv affect the quantity or quality of the yield. ... To meet Australian requirements a thoroughly good system of inspection on farms and at ports has been instituted at great expense, and during the last two seasons, as far as we know, the disease has been found in only one shipment, and we are confident no repetition of even this isolated occurrence is the least probable. . . . The Government earnestly requests th J matter should receive further consideration.