THE FRUIT REGULATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1209, 18 August 1911, Page 10

THE FRUIT REGULATIONS.

ATTITUDE IN AUSTRALIA. Brief reference was made in a cablegram last week lo a meeting of the Fruitgrowers' Union of New South AVales in reference to the proposed regulations to cover fruit shipped from Australia I'l New Zealand. The Under-Sceretary of the New South "Wales Department of Agrieulhiru wrote to the meeting in question, statin? that with regard to the mile radius in ccmnei'.tion with the inspection of fruit for export, to New Zealand, it was llie practice to calculate the distanco from the outer boundary of an orchard. Tho Now Zealand Government had notified, however, that it was proposed to reduco tho radius to a quarter of a mile, and it was expected thai: the amended regulations would come into operation shortly. The president stated that the growers wished the radius restrictions to be abolished. 3lr. A. Toomitn, a visitor from Auckland, expressed the opinion that it would be wise to nrcept- the quarter-mile radius, as if they :u-kod for its abolition tliey miglit not get any concision. H was certainly a te.rrible drawback to -a man having a clca/i. orchard to be prevented from trading jusl because lie happened to bo within a certain distance'of an infeotrd orchard. It. was a very stiiT regulation, which had been brought about, he understood,'by fruit getting away from Sydney to New 'Zealand without inspection. 110 promised, when he returned lo New Zealand, to ninkq. representations oil tl\e mattor;'' • : '

The Under-Secretary of the Department of 'Agriculture wrote with reference to the resolution passed by thn executive m connection with the slifpment of fruit to New Zealand that tho grower's agent, as wull iiM - tins shipper,, should make a statutory declaration to the effect that tho fruit shipped had been actually received from the grower named in the certificate, informing the executive that it had been decided lo give olfcot to the suggestion. In reply to the association, the Agricultural Department notified the now regulations, compelling 10 par cent, of fruit to be tipped out and thoroughly inspected before export to New Zealand, had already been brought under the notice of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

Tho secretary (Mr. E. F. Fripp) stated that the new regulation had not yet been put inlo force. 3fr. S. Fagan said the regulation would work dead against the interests of tho growers, many of whom would have to go to Sydney to' become fruit merchants.

Mr. Dale said the regulation would mean that, clean fruit would have to be tipped out, which would depreciate its value..

;,!r. TooniHii suggested that the exreutivp should communicate with Mr. Ivirk, of the New Zealand Agricultural Department, and point out the damaging effect the now regulation would have upon tho fruit-growing interests. The president said tlie fruit-growers wonkl bo handicapped in getting - their fruit away to New.Zealand if this new regulation were enforced. Only a few day* ago the shipping compauic-s sent word to the shippers that they would not receive'fruit for their boats on 'Wednesdays and Saturdays after 9 a.m. There, would be no chance of getting the fruit away by 9 a.m. if this new regulation were put into force. It was decided to bring the matter under the notice of Mr. Kirk, and to writo further to tho New South Wales Department of Agriculture, and also to write to the shipping companies, and point out the inconvenience of tying shippers down to' 9 a.m., which must result in a falliugoff of the quantity of fruit shipped.