AUSTRALIA PROTESTS.

Wairarapa Age, 20 December 1932, Page 5

AUSTRALIA PROTESTS.

AGAINST NEW ZEALAND FRUIT EMBARGO. IRRIGATION AREAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT BLAMED. SYDNEY, December 19. The “Dally Telegraph’s” Melbourne correspondent says that strong representations have been made by the Commonwealth Government to the New Zealand Government following the embargo placed on Australian fruit. The New Zealand embargo against Australian fruits is expected to react seriously against the irrigation areas of New South Wales, which have worked up a large trade in New Zealand for citrus fruits. In an average year the Griffith Producers’ Company alone exports upwards of 60,000 bushels of oranges to New Zealand. There is no disposition at Griffith to blame New Zealand for its retaliatory action, as the local growers have persistently agitated against embargoes on the importation of fruit to Australia, pointing out that inevitable retaliation would wreck Australia’s growing export trade in fruits. FRESH NEGOTIATIONS. ACTION BY FEDERAL MINISTER OF COMMERCE.

(Received Monday, 8.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 19. Representatives of exporters and shipping companies interviewed the Federal Minuter of Commerce, Mr. Stewart, to-day, in regard to the New Zealand embargo on Australian fruit and vegetables. Mr. Stewart later stated that fresh negotiations had been begun with New Zealand, with the object of impressing on the Dominion Government that whatever action was taken against New Zealand produce was for reasons of public health. However, efforts were now being made to straighten out the difficulty and he would have a conference immediately with the Federal Minister of Health, Mr. Marr.