N.Z. FRUIT EMBARGO.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 708, 8 March 1933, Page 1

N.Z. FRUIT EMBARGO.

Mr Lyons suggests Status Quo be Restored. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. CANBERRA, March 7. The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, made a statement to-day referring to New Zealand’s invitation to send a Minister to the Dominion to discuss the question of New Zealand’s embargo on Australian fruit. Mr Lyons said that the position in Australia was that all the Ministers dealing with trade and commerce were members of the House of Representatives, and, as the House this week begins a discussion on the complete tariff schedule, which would require the whole of their attention for some months, it was not practicable for any of them to leave the Commonwealth at present. A conference between Ministers was not likely to be fruitful, he said, unless it was preceded by careful preparation, and, as the pressure of public business in both dominions was an obstacle to such preparation being made at present, he suggested for the consideration of the New Zealand Government that, in the ultimate interests of both Dominions, it would be wise to restore the status quo. In the opinion of the Commonwealth Government, that course would make for good feeling, and would help towards a solution of •what were really mutual problems.