NEW ZEALAND POTATOES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND POTATOES

AUSTRALIA’S EMBARGO QUESTION OF DISEASE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. The question of the introduction of a potato disease known as corky, or powdery scab, into Austrlia by the removal of the embargo on New Zealand potatoes was discussed in the Australian House of Representatives last week. Mr. McGrath (Victoria), who introduced the subject, asked for a full statement of the Government’s intentions. Potato-growers were greatly alarmed at the proposal to remove the embargo, bcause of the danger of the introduction of corky scab. Its introduction would mean the ruin of local crops and would throw idle for 10 years or more laud now used for potatoes. Experts said it was almost impossible to eradicate the disease. Mr. McGrath added that the Government was contemplating introducing a dreadful disease into the third greatest primary industry in Victoria. By a stroke of a pen it was proposed to wipe the potato-growers out of existence. The industry gave employment to thousands of men in the digging season. No less than 95 per cent, of the potatogrowers were on the verge of insolvency because for three years they had sold their products below cost of production. Potatoes sold in April at £8 a ton, and declined to £5 when the rumour got about that New Zealand potatoes wore coming here. On the other hand, they increased from £2 to £6 a ton in Now Zealand. Mr. Scullin’s Opinion. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Scullin, said that in Australia there were 130,000 acres under cultivation for potato growing. It was such an important industry that the Government could not afford to take any risks. He wa. pleased to see trade with New Zealand extending, but the Government should declare immediately that, while there was the slightest danger of the introduction of disease, the embargo would be enforced. Mr. Bell (Tasmania) opposed the lifting of the embargo. He said it would be a strange position if the Commonwealth Government allowed potatoes to enter from New Zealand while Victoria’s prohibiton against Tasmanian potatoes remained. The Australian grower could provide for the Australian market. Mr. Paterson, acting-Leadcr of the Country Party, said that Mr. J. T. Ramsay, potato expert, of Victoria, had informed him that the risk of the disease entering Australia warranted the continuance of the embargo. Minister’s Statement. Mr. Stew’art said the Government was not contemplating ruining any industry by a stroke of the pen. When Senator Massy Greene had gone to New Zealand the price of Tasmanian Brownells on the Sydney market had been from £6 to £8 a ton. The price now was from £9 to £lO a ton. The Minister of Commerce, Mr. F. H. Stewart, said that in 1926 80,000 tons of New Zealand potatoes had been imported into Australia, while in 1927 the importations rose to 144,000 tons. Despite these importations in 1926 and 1927, Australian potatoes were still free from disease. “This matter is still the subject of negotiations with the New Zealand Government,” he added. “The Government is fully alive to the position, and will do nothing that will imperil the potato or any other valuable industry in Australia.” Mr. Gibson (Victoria) said he thought the alarm o/ the growers would be greater when they read Mr. Stewart’s reply. Mr. Stewart: Are you certain that this disease does not exist in Australia? Mr. Gibson: It does not exist in Victoria and South Australia. That I know. Mr. Fenton: A decision to lift the embargo has no hope of being passed in this House. Power of the States. Mr. Gibson (Victoria) had asked earlier whether, if a trade agreement was entered into wit b New Zealand removing the embargo, it would then be competent for a State Government to prevent the sale and distribution of New Zealand potatoes under its own regulations. The Attorney-General (Mr. Lathem) replied that the question evidently referred solely to the sale and distribution of a commodity within the State. No State could interfere with foreign or inter-State trade and commerce while there was Commonwealth legislation with which the legislation or the action of the State would bo inconsistent. When commodities had entered into the trade of a State, either foreign or in-ter-State trade, as the case might be, had ceased, and then the control of the sale and distribution of these commodities was entirely within the control of the State.

Mr. Lyons, in replying to a deputation on May 5 declined to commit himself in regard to the question of the removal of the embargo. Ho however, stated that nothing would be done for at least two months.