FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1921, Page 4

FRUIT INDUSTRY.

IMPORTATION OF AUSTRALIAN JAM PROHIBITED.

WELLINGTON, Aug 1

An Ordcr-in-Council was issued this evening prohibiting the importation of Australian jam and fruit pulp. The temporary embargo is not nil arbitrary, interference with trade, but is directed towards the preservation of important industries and the prevention of unemployment within the Dominion. People engaged in and dependent upon fruit growing and subsidiary industries, such as jam manufacturing, have recently been seriously embarrassed by the fact that the Australian Government decided to grant a rebate" of £2O a ton on all sugar used by Australian manufacturers in tile production ol goods for export. This step would result in the flooding of the New Zealand markets, the nearest dumping ground, with jams and preserves, and already dumping from Australia has been serious in these and other commodities. 11 is not suggested that the decision of the Commonwealth Government *vas made with a view to facilitating dumping, but it followed representations tro.n Australian fruit-growers and jam manufacturers.

After receiving numerous complain,-, from all parts of New Zealand, t ;, e Hon G. >L Anderson, Acting Minister of Industries and Commerce, was advised from a reliable source that there were huge quantities ol jam carried u'.ci from last year, and that there accumulations in both Melbourne urn! Sydney and also colossal stocks beld in London. The Australian export t t"i L* with London and the East aas reported to ho absolutely dead and the 10-d trade depressed. Australian inerehuo s were looking for fresh outlets, ami New Zealand presented the ino'-l- accessible field for exploitation. That flic danger to New Zeal ■ fruit growers is a real one ma,\ no realised when it is known that ovei 17.13)0 lons ef fruit pulp IS held m Australia to-day. waiting Hu ;i market-. The Australian Government's rebate on sugar for manufacturing purposes is :t sorious menace to i run-ji.ro" inti * allied industries in New Zealand. 1 f Australian dumping is allowed to proceed. irreparable iniurv will be inflicted upon the fruit-growing industry and all the secondary industries connected therewith. The fruit-growing, industry is already having a very hard struggle, and any serious set-hack, sucit as would result from the Australian dumping of jams, pulp, and preservewill seriously threaten the position ol many growers. Unless fruit-growers can dispose of the hulk ol the crop within New Zealand tor jam-making and preserving purposes, the interests of many growers, including numerous returned soldiers, recently settled on the land, will be sacrificed. Jam mamifact(tiers arc alreadv stocked with considerable quantities ot t mil I rout last season's crop, and there is keen competition for sales within the Dominion itself, and if dumping of imported jams prevents the disposal ol the New Zealand stocks, jam manufacturers will not tie in a position to place further orflers with fruit-growers for an indefinite period. In flic Government-’s view there is ample power in the Board of Trade Act- for the interests of consumers to he safeguarded in respect t# price.