CHILEAN OATS

Evening Star, Issue 19665, 19 September 1927, Page 2

CHILEAN OATS

HO PROHIBITION {/Incut to ihb ‘ Stab.'] WELLINGTON, September 17. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. U. J. Hawken) announces that the request received by him for the prohibition or importation of Chilean and other foreign oats cannot be acceded to. ‘‘An examination of import statistics shows that only once during the past ten years has any importation of oats from Chili taken place,” says the Minister, “and this was the year 1926, when 17,333 centals were brought into the country. This formed part of a special cargo which had been lifted by a company which was testing the possibilities of establishing a shipping hue with Chili, and embracing New Zealand. The oats proved unsatisfactory, and it is considered _ highly improbable that any attempt will bo made to import supplies from that country. “The only other foreign country from which oats were imported during the period mentioned was the United States of America, which supplied 448 centals in 1924 and 11 centals in 1926. In view of the foregoing facts, the Government is of opinion that no useful sprpose would be served by the imposiWon of the prohibition asked for, but the matter will be closely watched, and if there is any material change in tho position the question will naturally receive further consideration.”