EMBARGOES AND DUTIES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1924, Page 4

EMBARGOES AND DUTIES

( OMPLAiX'fc OF AUCKLAND A IKJt CM A NT. AUCKLAND, July M. Deferring to the proposed prohibition oi importation of onions from California owing to the prevalence of loot and mouth disease there, a prominent Auckland merchant said the reason was simply ridiculous. “Foot and mouth disease has been in existence in all parts of the world f many years.” he said, "fn England it was raging at a great rate two yu.rs ago, hut there was no suggestion nf putting mi embargo on the importation of cereals from Great llritnin. As a matter of fact the discjsc is still in existneo and wo arc still importing from the Old Country and in n hundred ways the disease could lie hrou,glit in through the stuff wo are at present importing. For instance it could come in various forms of packing such as hay, straw or husks, all of which are used to it large extent in packing goods that come here from the Old Country. Then in lace of this we have the Government .suddenly springing this surprise about onions upon us. Where is the consistency? With regard to Californian onions I may explain that for the last twenty years we have regularly imported large quantities and it is the only market tiputr which we can draw. The Agricultural Department must lie aware as well ns I am that onions life ,always examined before leaving Sun Francisco and carry with them a certificate from the United States Department of Agriculture to the effect that they are Irce from <lisca.se.

•' At the present time there are quantities of onions now awaiting shipment hi San I* raneiseo tor Auckland. Those onions have been sold here and allotted for distribution all over tin' Dominion. The shippers are supplying a certificate staling that the onions are fre ill a district that is free of foot and mouth disease. Payment for the onions lias been remitted from New Zealand, the freight space has been arranged, shipment is to he made ill about two weeks’ time, and the onions are now being packed bv growers. In the face of all these facts we suddenly have this ama/.ing Agricultural Department imposing an absolute embargo. The thing is entirely incomprehensible and I tor one think it will l>i* impossible to onforee the embargo.

••The Government at the present time permits oi the importation of cereals front certain States of Australia upon condition that a certificate is supplied stating that the grain has not been grown in infected areas. In the ease of onions from California no such proposal has boon made. T lie United States Government is prepared to supply certificates to exporters stating that onions have not been grow n in infected areas. \\ hy should Califoruian onions lie treated ill a diifereltl manner?

* * lint there are other things that puzzle the merchants. For instance there is, according to iho June statistic-. published hv the Gnveriimcnl. a .'ltortage of wheat ill Now Zealand of about !,0011,0'll) bushels. Early in the season the Government anottneed that it was going to import wheat itsell and sell it to the trade. This it did. but it should he noted that the price charged includes duty, which. or course, is going into the Consolidated Fund. What merchants cannot understat'd on the part of the Government i- why the i.'i'ople of New Zealand should lie mulcted io duty on wheat it there is a shortage of wheat ill the

country? The disability of having to import wheat and the expense that

means are -lively enough withoutwringing more from the people in the shape of duty

"There is also, according to the sla-ti-tie- a shortage in New Zealand of

:!.7<t:;.til)t> lot-hel- of oats. We musthave oats, so they miisl he imported from abroad. The merchants and feeders' associations have endeavoured to gel the Government to remove the Jut v on oats so a- to relieve the public. hut the Government lias refused and the reason is apparently that it is going to collect L'ITO.fMMT duty if we import to make up the short age that exists, so that w hal with the wheat ami oat- that New Zealand will bavin import to make up the shortage the Government will collect something over CJ.nnO.OfKl in duty, which seems unreasonable when we cannot supply ourselves with those cereals-.

A suggestion was made that the duty cm wheat and oats should he removed up till llie end of December next. The new season's crop in New Zealand "ill not come forward until next .Maieli, so Hun that would give- three months for tin- clearing oh’ ol any stocks that might have bee'll imported. This would remove nny objection on the part of till' New Zealand growers that Iree importation ol oats anil wheat would nrejuiliei' them next season.