NEW ZEALAND ONIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18026, 22 May 1930, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND ONIONS.

SHIPMENT TO VANCOUVER. CANADIAN FARMERS’ COMPLAINT. British Columbia onion growers have taken objection to a consignment of New Zealand onions that arrived by the Aorangi. With a large crop of onions last autumn onion growers in the Okanagan district of British Columbia were “up against it.” In, the hope of drawing even', supplies were placed in cold storage in this city, and the bulk, of them are still there. They are being held at £8 a ton- Growers had to meet competition from Oregon growers who sold onions under the British Columbia price. Local growers thought their chance would come when the Oregon supplies gave out. Then the Aorangi arrived with the New Zealand shipment, which of coui-se is admitted free of duty. New Zealand has a tariff of £1 a ton on onions of British origin. British Columbian growers say they do not complain of this, as they have done a considerable business with New Zealand, which has not the prohibitory tariff that Australia imposes. But they complain that this New Zealand shipment has been sent “on consignment.” and will probably be sold at any price. The Associated Growers, a very big ‘rural organisation, is examining the position to see if the aid of the dumping! clause of the tariff may be invoked. In their opinion the onions will not pay the cost of shipment.

Their feelings were not smoothed by the arrival by the same ship of Australian apples right in the local apple season. But the apples from Australia had codlin moth and were condemned. Nevertheless New Zealand gets the blame for Australia’s sins, and vice versa, in these parts.