THE TRADE AGREEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 102, 27 October 1933, Page 8

THE TRADE AGREEMENT

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In bringing the Australia-New Zealand trade agreement before the House of Representatives a few nights ago, Mr. | Coates stated that the imposition of Id per lb on raisins other than 'Australian would not increase the cost of living. This duty of one penny per lb is plus 9-4Oths surtax, which makes the duty on California!) raisins l%d per lb. It must be explained that raisins cover seeded raisins, sultanas, and table muscatels. Seeded raisins have always been imported from California, as the Australian article is not suitable for the New Zealand market, yet the Government has imposed a duty of l%d per lb on this line. The biggest line of fruit purchased by the New Zealand public is sultanas. Californian choice golden sultanas can be purchased in Wellington retail stores at 5%d per lb, but with the duty they will be sold at 7d per lb. According to the statistical report for 1932, just over 10.000,0001b weight of raisins and sultanas were imported into New Zealand, and I maintain definitely that the New Zealand public will pay l%il per i lb extra for their fruit on the quantity to be imported into New Zealand for 1933. ■which wiU exceeded 10,000,0001b weight. Now it will be interesting to hear how Mr. Coates,arrives at the conclusion that the cost of living will not increase. The public need only ask their grocer whether I the cost of dried fruit will go up or not.' now. that the New Zealand public are in , the hands of the Australian dried fruit j growers.—l am, etc., MERCHANT.