CHECK TO TRADE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 152, 23 March 1939, Page 11

CHECK TO TRADE

Export Of Vegetables To Australia

VIRTUAL EMBARGO Fear Of White Butterfly Action taken by the Australian authorities to prevent the introduction of the white butterfly into' the Common wealth will mean a virtual embargo on the export of New Zealand-grown vegetables to Australia. The requirements of the Federal Government were . announced yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. 'Lee Martin, who said a trade that had assumed some promise would now be jeopardized.

"For some time past Sydney merchants have been operating in New Zealand in the purchase of various classes of vegetables, to meet the shortage occasioned by drought conditions in Australia,” said Mr. Lee Martin. “At the request of the Federal authorities regulations have been gazetted in New Zealand prohibiting the export of vegetables to Australia except with the consent of the Minister of Customs. These regulations were designed mainly to ensure that auy vegetables shipped were properly packed in new containers. Regulations To Be Gazetted. "The Federal authorities have now become concerned with the possibility of white butterfly being introduced through such importations, and I am in receipt of information that regulations are to be gazetted immediately requiring that all lettuce and vegetables belonging to the cabbage and turnip family, and intended for export from New Zealand to Australia, must be accompanied by a certificate that such produce has been produced in a district free from white butterfly, and that the produce lias been rigidly inspected for the presence of the white butterfly caterpillar. It will be necessary, therefore, for merchants to obtain such a certificate before any vegetables of the above types are exported. “It will be appreciated that strict: enforcement of the requirements of the Federal authorities means a virtual embargo on the export of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, swedes, turnips, and so on to Australia, but it is hoped that some arrangements may be made whereby exports will be allowed, at certain times of the year, without undue restriction.

“It is to be regretted that this trade, which has assumed some promise during recent months, will now be jeopardized, but it is recognized that the Australian authorities arc desirous of avoiding the introduction of the white butterfly if at all possible.”