MR SAUNDERS’ INDIGNATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 823, 23 February 1903, Page 2

MR SAUNDERS’ INDIGNATION.

JEALOUS OF NEW ZEALAND.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyrighi

Received 12.2 a.m., Feb. 23,

Sydney, Feb. 22. Mr Leonard Saunders, Secretary of the New South Wales Fruitgrowers’ Association, writing to tho press under date Auckland 14th, says : “ I am forcod reluctantly to tell the producers of New South Wales that New Zealand as a market for fruit products of any kind will soon bo a thing of tho past. From time to time I have had New South Wales Agricultural Department and various growers’ associations striving with the New Zealand Government for tho removal of tho prohibition on grapes, and tho Premier sendß back the old reply to oach new requisition that the matter will be reconsidered. Now I say emphatically, after ascertaining tho political power of tho Growers’ Union, and after various interviews with the viticultural expert, Senor Bragato, and others, that Mr Seddon never for one moment entertained one conciliatory thought about tho importation of New South Wales grapes. Ho is afraid of industrial antagonisms and the condemnation of any movement that might interfere with the local producer. Tho practice plainly is a deliberate and intentional restriction of all imports that might be produced locally.” The writer recounts a series of experiments with Australian and New Zealand wines at Wellington. Most of the New Zealand wines and clarets were made at Government farms. Those present were jubilant that their wines moro than held their own against Australian wines more than three times their age. Now it is pretty certain the New Zealand Government will let the result of this alleged test be known all over the world. I should advise Australian vignerons to take immediate action to ascertain the exact condition under which the tests were made.