FRUIT TRADE PROBLEM

Evening Star, Issue 22456, 29 September 1936, Page 13

FRUIT TRADE PROBLEM

THE CITRUS EMBARGO NEW SOUTH WALES PREMIER INTERVIEWED {Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 28. “ I am well aware that there have been many conferences and discussions, and that there have been difficulties in the way of arriving at a settlement of the fruit trade problem, but I feel that in expressing a hope that the trade will-pick up again quickly I am voicing the sentiments not only of the people of this country, but also of my own people,” said Air B. S. Stevens, Premier of New South Wales, commenting on the fruit embargo against New South. Wales. “ I am sorry that the embargo against the importation of fruit from New South Wales remains in force,” he said. “I am advised that oranges and mandarins of excellent quality are being retailed in Sydney this season at prices low enough to put these fruits within the purchasing capacity of all sections of the community, and that surplus supplies are available which could be shipped to New Zealand markets. The prices are such as would enable oranges to bo retailed in New Zealand at round about Is to Is Gd a dozen, and mandarins at from Gd to Is per dozen, according to size. “ These citrus fruits are a very necessary item in dietary,” Mr Stevens continued, and so much has been done in this country to impress upon people the advantages to lie gained from a health point of view as to leave little more for me to say. New Zealand is noted for its low infantile death rate, and the Dominion owes much to the

teachings of such men as Sir Truhy King, who stressed for so long the virtues of citrus fruits for children, as well as for adults, “ The existing embargo against New South Wales fruits prevents the New Zealand consumer from obtaining cheap navel oranges during the months of June to September,” concluded Mr Stevens. 1 “ With the exception of a few cases from South Australia, mandarins are unobtainable, while in the case of the warmer months from September to March, instead of cheap Valencia oranges of excellent quality from New South Wales being procurable, the only oranges available to New Zealanders are the high-priced South Australian navels in September and October and imported oranges from the West Indies and the United States from November to March, also at high values.”