FRUIT IMPORTATIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17023, 7 August 1929, Page 11

FRUIT IMPORTATIONS

EFFECT ON INDUSTRY

DUTIES NOT NECESSARY (Per Press Association.) WEWJNGTON, this day. An assurance thut the intents oi' the public from the point of view of keeping down the cost of living will be considered first and foremost- WU S given by the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, to-day to a deputation from the Christchurch Fruit Retailers’ Association, which protested a gain t- tlio fruit grower’s request for increased duties on imported fruit. Mr. E. Aldridge said they felt that as a result of the increased duties the public would be called upon to pay more for their fruit. In most cases fruit arrived in New Zealand at a time when local fruit was unprocurable, or had been in cool storage for a considerable time, and had thus deteriorated. American apples came into the Dominion when local fruit was in cool store. Though they looked all right, within 48 hours they became spotted, and the average shopkeeper lost, onethird of his stock. Canadian apples were obtainable at that time, and though they were clearer than the local fruit they commanded a ready sale. The most burning question was, perhaps, that o! grapes. American and Australian grapes came in from September to December, when there were no* local grapes available, and to ask for 6d for duty, or an increase of Sd par lb., meant that the public would lie paying, & instead of Is 4d or Is 6d. The fact that the tomato industry was growing did not indicate that it had been damaged by importations IVom Cook Islands. _ The Hon. J. H Donald, who. introduced the deputation, said that he did not see the necessity for a higher duty to protect local apple-growers, and agreed .with the representations.