ORANGE EMBARGO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 5

ORANGE EMBARGO

i— Pres* Aasooiation.)

Canterbury Chamber Of Commerce Protests V- .... . "ABSURD SITUATION"

(By TeleeraDh

CHEISTCHUECH, This Day. A vigorous attaek on the embargo on the impoftatxott of Australian oranges was made by the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening. Members were emphatie in declaring that oranges were iio longer a luxury but were absolutely essential to the health of the coffiinunity. It Was decided to nrge the Government to remove the restrictions in order to ensure an ample supply of oranges during the approAchxng Winter. Mr. W. Machin Said he had had a laTge amount of cOrrespondence with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industries and Commerce on the subject. Some weeks ago he had asked if the restrictions cofild not be lifted as abundant supplies of oranges could be landed at 28/- a case, yet he Was being forced to buy Californian oranges at from 40/- to 50/- a case. He gave chapter and verse to the Ministersand asked them if they would allow the public the benefit Of cheaper orangOs, as they would not intSrfere with any New Zealand industry. "It seems a ridiculous situation," he added, "when we haVe sittall retailers coming to my Stores and buying oranges at retail prxecs to fetail again to their oustomOrs. I . was aBSuTed by the Ministers that all is well afad that we had got More oranges than we were in thO habit of getting. "They told me that there was a sufficiency of oranges and that all was in order. In reply I suggested that instead of signing letters written by subordinates, Ministers might look into the matter themselves. This' is not a class matter, for people df every Class need Oranges."