NO SHORTAGE

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 23 July 1934, Page 4

NO SHORTAGE

Tomato Pulp for Use in Condiments. According to representations made to the Government there was a shortage of tomatoes for pulping purposes last season. These representations were denied at Saturday evening’s meeting of the Christchurch Tomato and Stonefruit Growers’ Association. The Comptroller of Customs wrote to the association stating that reprt* sentations had been made to the Government asserting that, owing to the failure of last year’s tomato crop, there Was a shortage of tomato pulp required for the manufacture of sauce and soups, and a request had been made for some concession to be made in respect of the duty payable on a quantitv of Australian tomato pulp sufficient to enable the local manufacturers to keep their factories going until the coming season’s crop of tomatoes was available. The letter asked for information as to whether there had been an actual shortage in the quantity of tomatoes available for manufacturers during the past season. The chairman (Mr 11. T. Falla) said that the committee had discussed the letter and it felt that it was necessary to reply proving that there had been absolutely no shortage of supplies. Afr C. E. Pope said that there had ■ been no shortage but a glut. The local pulping firms had refused to take fur- . thcr supplies and they had had all the | fruit they wanted. Mr C. J. Fineran said he was sure i that, if the manufacturers would give ! contracts for the supply cf tomatoes, I the growers could let them have ail the fruit they neede<J.