AUSTRALIAN FRUITS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 18986, 1 July 1933, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN FRUITS.

DOMINION’S EMBARGO.

SIIW'IT: “A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.” MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. United Press Assn.—Eiec. Tel. Copyright. SYDNEY, June 30. At the Fruitgrowers’ Conference to-day Mr. F. H. Stewart, Federal Minister of Commerce, answered criticism relative to the Government’s failure to have New Zealand’s fruitembargo lifted. ■Mr, Stewart said: “ This New Zealand embargo may prove a blessing in disguise. It forces us to seek new markets. Already I am negotiating with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in order to secure concessions which would enable Australian growers of citrus fruits to exploit the eastern Canadian provinces, where a valuable potential market exists. These negotiations, so far are very satisfactory. “ I have been informed that the United States Government has notified the New Zealand Government that it will not permit the importation of fruit from any country w’here the Mediterranean fly is known to exist, as in parts of Australia, so that New Zealand’s prospects of developing a large fruit trade with America are not so bright as they were a few weeks ago.

" It may be a hard thing to say, but we hope New Zealand’s efforts will fall, after which she would be In a more amenable mood to consider our case.”

Mr. Stewart agreed to arrange for a deputation to the Prime Minister on the subject of further efforts to'have the embargo lifted. CANBERRA, Ji ne 30.

Sir Massey Greene, in reply to a question in the Senate to-day, said the New Zealand Government Is discussing with the United States Government the extent to which it would be possible for the Dominion to admit citrus fruit from certain districts of Australia rot affected by |the Mediterranean fly and yet to retain her right to export fruit to America. The New Zealand Government has informed the Commonwealth Government that it is not prepared to discuss the removal of the fruit embargo until negotiations between New Zealand and the United States are concluded.

The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, to-day received a fruitgrowers’ deputation. He assured them that the Cabinet next week would reconsider the whole position and treat the embargo matter as very urgent.