MENACE TO FRUIT STRESSED BY GROWERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19197, 10 October 1930, Page 4

MENACE TO FRUIT STRESSED BY GROWERS.

In a statement published yesterday Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister for the Cook Islands, said that it would not be desirable to prohibit the importation of island tomatoes during November and December, and that there was tigT fruit fly menace through the existing imports. The following reply is made by the council of the New Zealand Soft Fruit and Producer Growers:— “Representations were made to the Minister for the Cook Islands for the restriction of Cook Island tomatoes for the months of October, November and December. Sir Apirana has erroneously stated November and December. “These importations are in no way| necessitous as they do not come in any number during the winter months, when local tomatoes are not available, and these Island tomatoes can be grown at any time of the year. “According to correspondence from Island growers, complaining bitterly of the low prices received for tomatoes, 2s 6d per twenty-pound case and oranges 3s 6d per large case, from the merchants operating there, the grower e •fdently derives very little benefit. ‘Tt is nonsense to suppose that the fly will never thrive here. If this should occur, the public will have many regrets, as an increase in price wifculd be imperative, for the grower would have such heavy losses. Mr Eyerett, of Cook Islands, stated in an interview with a representative of the son Mail’ that it was possible to find fruit fly in tomatoes in the Islands. The oranges from Tonga are banned by the New Zealand Government owing to the fruit fly, and I am informed by a grower from Tonga that tha fly is identical with that of the Cook Island species. The fact that the Government will not allow any imports of oranges from Cook Islands after September is sufficient to show that the menace is feared.” CHAS E. POPE, President New Zealand Tomato, Soft Fruit and Produce Growers’ Council, Albert Terrace, St Martins, Christchurch, October 9, 1930.