EMBARGO REGRETTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 29 September 1936, Page 4

EMBARGO REGRETTED

NEW SOUTH WALES FRUIT LOSS TO N.Z. STRESSED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. “I am well aware that there have been many conferences and discussions and that there have been difficulties in the way of arriving nt a settlement of the. fruit trade problem, hut I feel that, in expressing the hope that the trade will pick tip again quickly, I am voicing the sentiments, not only of the people of this country, but also of my people,” said Mr. B. S. B. Stevens, the Premier of New South Wales, in commenting yesterday on the fruit einhargo against New South Wales.

"I am sorry that the embargo against, the importation of fruit from New South Wales remains in force,” he said. *‘l am advised that oranges and mandarins of excellent quality are being retailed in Sydney this season at prices low enough to put these fruits within the purchasing capacity of all sections of the community, and surplus supplies are available which could .be shipped to the New Zealand 1 markets. ‘‘The prices are such as would enable oranges to be retailed in New Zealand at round about Is to Is 6d per dozen, and mandarins at from 6d to Is s

per dozen according to sizes. ‘‘These, citrus fruits are a very necessary item of diet, and so much has been done in this country to impress upon the people the advantages to be gained from the health point of view as to leave little for me to say. New Zealand is noted for its low infantile death rate, and the Dominion owes much to the teachings of such men as the Into Sir Truhy King, wTio stressed for so long the virtues of citrus fruits for children as well as adults.

“The existing embargo against New South Wales fruits prevents the New Zealand consumer from obtaining cheap navel oranges during the months of .lime to September,” conducted Air. Stevens, “With the exception of a few cases from South Australia, mandarins are unobtainable, while in the case of the warmer months from September to March, instead of cheap Valencia oranges of excellent quality from New South Wales, the only oranges available to New Zealanders are the higli-prieed South Australian navels in September and October and imported oranges from the West Indies and the L nited States from November to March, also at high values.”