The Insane Duty on Fruit.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 68, 17 September 1895, Page 2

The Insane Duty on Fruit.

CONSTERNATION AMONG EXPORTERS. [Per Press Association j Sydney, Sept. 14. The imposition of the duty by New Zealand on fruit has caused consternation among the local fruit exporters. A. preliminary meeting was held to-day to consider the matter and a deputation will probably wait on the Government tomorrow to urge them to use their influence against their immediate levying of the duty. In the course of an interview the leading exporters snid they considered they had been unfairly treated in not receiving notice of the new departure. If the duties had been withheld till January Ist it would have given them time to arrange busiuesa, but the suddenness would simply involve them in loss and bring the exportation to ] New Zealand to a standstill. This was i more likely to be the case at the present time, owing to the drought, which gives a good market locally and in Melbourne for all orchards likely to yiold. The Tekapo sailed on Saturday without consignments from small shippers, who could not stand the loss. The larger dealers fulfilled their engagements at their own expense. It is stated the new duty means two shillings per case, which will ruin the trade with New Zealand. Wellington, Sept. 13 A petition haa been circulated and largely signed against the proposed fruit duties. Dunedin, Sept. 11. The fruit dealers have forwarded the following telegram to the Colonial Treasurer regarding the duty on fruit— " Any increased duties on fruit would be prohibitive, and not provide more revenue. Public generally express great dissatisfaction at the proposed increase." Auckland, Sept. 19. A petition, largely and influentally signed, was sent to Wellington today against the proposal to impose a duty on Island fruit. The petition read as follows: — The proposal t;o impose a duty on Island fruit is calculated to seriously affect the Island trade, which even now is being gradually diverted to Sydney. The shipping and mercantile interests of Auckland will suffer heavily by losing the connection with the Islands, already forcibly competed for by Sydney. Christchurch, This Day. The fruiterers have sent a protest to the Government against the importation duty on Island fruit.