VEGETABLES FOR AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 23774, 23 March 1939, Page 5

VEGETABLES FOR AUSTRALIA

CONCERN ABOUT WHITE BUTTERFLY

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 22.

“For some time past Sydney merchants have been operating in New Zealand in the purchase of various classes of vegetables to meet the shortage occasioned by drought conditions in Australia,” stated the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, in an interview today. “At the request of the Federal authorities regulations have been gazetted in New Zealand prohibiting the export of vegetables except with the consent of the Minister of Customs. These regulations were designed mainly to ensure that any vegetables shipped were properly packed in new containers. The Federal authorities have now become concerned with the possibility of the white butterfly being introduced through such importations and I am in receipt of information that regulations are to be gazetted immediately requiring that all lettuce and vegetables belonging to the cabbage and turnip family intended for export from New Zealand to Australia must be accompanied by a certificate that such produce has been produced in a district free from the white butterfly and that the produce has been rigidly inspected for the presence of the white butterfly caterpillar. “It will be necessary therefore for merchants to obtain such a certificate before any vegetables of the above types are exported. It will be appreciated that the strict enforcement of the requirements of the Federal authorities means a virtual embargo on the export of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, swedes and turnips to Australia, but it is hoped that some arrangements may be made whereby exports will be allowed at certain times of the year without undue restriction. It is to be regretted that this trade, which has assumed some promise during recent months, will now be jeopardized, but it is recognized that the Australian authorities are desirous of avoiding the introduction of the white butterfly if at all possible.”