FRUIT FROM SYDNEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6514, 17 June 1899, Page 7

FRUIT FROM SYDNEY.

The "Sydney Mail" of June 3 makes the following announceiherit : — "For some time past the Minister of Agriculture hasbeen endeavouring to secure more favourable terms for the admission of New South Wales fruit into New Zealand, as hitherto the trade has been much hampered owing to the very strict regulations and inspection to guard against the introduction of pests. Mr Cook has now received- a letter from New Zealand, stating that the Government is anxious to avoid anything likely, to interfere in any way with legitimate trade, and that, although the present regulations have had the effect of improving the quality of the fruit on the market fully 100 pcr -cent, it is probable they will shortly be so far relaxed as to admit all fruit, if accompanied by a certificate from New South Wales inspectors that it is free, from disease. This will' he in accordance with the agreement arrived at at the recent intercolonial conference held in Hobart, and it 'is satisfactory ! to note that the New 'Zealand (iovennneht, although not represented at the 'conference, is likely-to fall ih with the arrangements there made. " The examiners of fruit at.

Lyttelton and Dunedin are not aware that any relaxation of the regulations at present in force is contemplated, and it certainly is not justified by experience, which has been, so far, that the Sydney certificate is valueless, in fact, every consignment which has been accompanied by that certificate has been found to be infected. Nothing but a strict examination in the New Zealand ports can, in the meantime, at- any rate, effectually prevent the introduction of fruit pests.