POTATO EMBARGO

Timaru Herald, Issue 170308, 2 September 1920, Page 8

POTATO EMBARGO

3.1.11 BFXTOX IX. SYDNEY. By Electric Telegraph—Conyrigli t. Australian and N.Z. Cabio A«a. Keeeived 7.4-5 p.m.. Sept. Ist. SYDXEY. Sept. ]. 3fr Buxton. Ly request, meh merchants arid brokers and representatives of tho Sydney produce trade and the Chamber of Commerce, and detailed tho eiforis mndc to induce the Federal authorities to remove the embargo on the importation of Now Zealand potatoes, lie slated that lie had been, successful to the point thai, an officer o'.' tiie Department was heing despatched to New Zealand to report upon the conditions there. - He stated that, the Nnv Zealand crop was the largest on ie:ord. .ind the quality equal to anything ho iiad inspected in Australia. It was recommended to Mr Buxton thai shipments 1>« restricted to South Island iiort*. to ensure thorough inspection nnd ;is a guard against excessive export. Some terms and conditions of sale were proposed liy New Zciland merchants which were not- acceptable to Sydney traders, and a coiiimitl'-e was appointed 10 submit proposals which it was hoped would facilitate trade between the Dominion and thi' (Commonwealth. The chairman thanked 31 r .Buxton for his efforts, which should mean a better understanding, to their mutual benefit. The delegates return to New Zealand to-morrow. .All! LINDSAY BKITRXKD. 3fr Lindsay returned from Australia on Tne.--i.hiy. Mr Cockayne and .Mr Buxton and an officer of the Australian Department of Agriculture leavi: Sydney for Xcw Zealand to-day by the I limaroa. 3fr Lindsay taj's'that Australia lias removed the embargo on New Zealand potatoes and shipping will commence as soon as tho visiting- Departmental Officer is satisfied that- the New Zealand Agricultural Department are talcing' the necessary precautions to prevent; infected potatoes being vent to Ai-V.tralia. A meeting of |he South CanU-r'.mry .l'oiaio (Iroivr-i-b 1 Association is being held in i lie Secretary's Uftice, Temuka. on Saumhiy evening. SAID TO JIK LIFTED. { 3lr AV. Lindsay, of AYamiati.', who was a ineuiber ot the delegation, that, went to Australia to try to secure the. removal of the embargo on potatoes, returned from Australia on' Tuesday, lie stated that the embargo has been lilted by tho Federal Oovernlnetu-, and shipping -would eommeiKo as boon as tho 'Departmental officer from Australia is satisfied that the New Zealand Agricultural Department is la'ing the necessary precautions to pr.-veni infected potatoes being sent to Australia. The olficer mentioned is ac-i eomp.inying Air T. Buxton and A. It. Cockayne to Xew Zealand, who j were to leave Sydney yesterday on the! ' Climaroa. Messrs Waters and 31c(.I'illivray, of tho Department of Agricukure, arrived in Temuka yestc-day vith the object, of inspecting the potatoes held in tho district. - LIFTED TOO LATE. In the opinion of a. leading LJuuedm merchant the embargo lifting on potato export to the Commonwealth will come too late. He says:—"lf tho Australian representative, when lie comes across, finds that any of our districts i are clean as regards scab, tvo will probably be allowed to ship,, hut- that permission may not end the difficulty. There must be delays in making the report, and, even if it is favourable, a little time will he taken up in getting ready for shipment. I am afraid it will he the end of September before tve can get potatoes actually on hoard i a ship, and by that time some sprout:ng may have commenced. It that should happen, and it is likely, and the potatoes have to stand iu a warm hold for a week or ten days, one cannot he sure that they -will he iti markeiahio condition when they arrive. 31y point is that it is a. question whether relief is not coming too laic. I. hope not. nub there is a doubt. One thing quite sure is that there is an ample supply to draw from in Canterbury."