A SERIOUS VIEW.

Wairarapa Age, 19 December 1932, Page 5

A SERIOUS VIEW.

FEDERAL MINISTER ON FRUIT EMBARGO. EXCLUSION OF OUR FRUIT ONLY A PRECAUTION. GREAT CONCERN AT CANBERRA. (Received This Day, 0.28 a,m.) CANBERRA, December 18. The Hon. J. G. Latham, referring to the New Zealand embargo on fruit, points out that the Commonwealth has not an embargo on New Zealand fruit, but has only taken a precaution owing to th® prevalence of fireblight in the Dominion, to prevent its admission to Australia, which takes a serious view of New Zealand’s action.

HINT OF RETALIATION. FIREBLIGHT PROHIBITION GENERAL. SYDNEY, December 17. The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ Canberra correspondent says that strong representations will bo made to New Zealand for the removal of the embargo. The Commonwealth cannot afford to lose trade worth £200,000 annually, the amount involved, and it is stated officially that if New Zealand remains adamant, the Federal Cabinet will have to consider whether other action is open to it to regain the position. It is admitted that the step taken by the Dominion has created a delicate situation, one which might easily lead to moves and countermoves of a kind the very reverse of those contemplated by the Ottawa Agreements. A. point now under consideration is whether the danger of fireblight from New Zealand is outweighed by the economic loss caused by the Dominion’s drastic action. The Director-General of Health, Dr. Cumpston, stresses that Australia would be most willing to meet New Zealand’s wishes if possible. He adds that the prohibition against fireblight applies to all countries in which fireblight has been reported. THE ONLY OUTLET. BLOW TO CITRUS INDUSTRY. MELBOURNE, December 17. Consternation is expressed by representatives of the citrus growers at the embargo. The secretary of the Federal Citrus Council, Mr. Parkes, said that the embargo came as a great blow to the citrus industry as New Zealand provided practically the only profitable Outlet for Australia’s surplus citrus fruit.