FRUIT AGREEMENT SOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 5

FRUIT AGREEMENT SOUGHT

CITRUS ENTRY TO NEW ZEALAND. SOUTHLAND .REPRESENTATIONS By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. “I have received word that our Government will allow the entry of Australian citrus fruit into New Zealand on condition that the Commonwealth Government agrees to New Zealand potatoes being allowed, into Australia under certificate, with a duty of not more than £1 a ton,” said Mr. Frank Bray, Southland representative of the New Zealand Fruit and Produce Auctioneers’ and Importers’ Federation, to-day. “The Commonwealth Government wishes to impose a duty of £2 10s a ton,” he continued, “and if an agreement js not completed between the Commonwealth and the Dominion we are likely to be without Australian citrus fruits this season.”

Shipments of Australian oranges were expected in the normal course of events early this month, Mr. Bray explained, but the prospects now looked far from promising and if an agreement were not reached the citrus fruit market in New Zealand, particularly in the south, wojild be placed in a most unsatisfactory position, owing to the absence of Australian shipments. The situation would be much worse than it was last year, and indeed would be serious, since hardship would be imposed on people who required oranges at a reasonable price for invalids, and children.