THE TOMATO GROWERS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14165, 16 August 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE TOMATO GROWERS.

A DEPUTATION

COOK ISLAND COMPETITION

REPORT TO «E OBTAINED

(Feom Ovz Ob.n Coruespondent.)

Wellington, August 1. A deputation consisting of Mr T. A. H...Field (Nelson). Air .ft. P.-Hudson (Motueka), the Hon. A. T. Maginnity, Messrs Wilford iTlntt), Witty (Riecarton), Ell (Christ-church Soiitli), and Colvm (Westport), waited on tho Minister of Agriculture (Mr -MadDojiald) on behalf of the tomato growors of New Zealand. 1)1-. Fon^ire, Minister for the Cook Island:,, iva.s also present. • Mr T. A. H. Field said there were two practical proposals put forward bythe tomato growers. One was that tho importation of Cook island "tomatoes should be prohibited after November Ist. The other'proposal was that llarotongan tomatoes should be branded on the cases and -sold as such, both wholesale and retail. As things stood at present. New Zealand growers,, who in Nelson alone employed" 6(X) persons, Avere threatened with rum. The Cook Islands, though part of Now Zealand, v.-ere not subject to the New Zealand labour laws.

Messrs \YiJfonJ, Hudson, and Mnginnity also urged that something should be done to help Now Zealand growers.' :

Dr. Pomare objected to n partial prohibition of the importlation of tomatoes, but saw _no objection to marking cases and selling the fruit as Rarotongan. Tho Minister of -Agriculture was sympathetic with the deputation. He said ■the was encouraging people in going on;tho land, and therefore it "was anxious- .to-help.-the growers. He would get ia.n exhaustive report on the whole matter, and i;eo what..could be done. He thought there would be no difficulty aibout marking cases as requested.