N.Z. POTATOES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1927, Page 1

N.Z. POTATOES.

BARRED BY AUSTRALIA

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

WELLINGTON, February 2

New Zealand potato growers ami merchants will be perturbed bv the announcement that the Commonwealth Government has decided to reimpose ;i n embargo against New Zeal an . potatoes as irom kebruarv loth. The presence of powdery scab is stated to be the reason. Tbe matter lias been taken up by the N.Z. Government at the instance of Hon Air Flawken. and the following cable has been despatched by I lon. Downie Stewart to the Australian Premier: “The Cominouwealth Health Department lias informed the Dominion Agricultural Department that, owing to powdery scab disease in New Zealand, permission to import potatoes for food purposes from this Dominion to Australia will be withdrawn, as from loth February. The effect of this is practically to reinstate the embargo against the importation of New Zealand potatoes into' Australia. My Government feels sure that the Commonwealth Government recognises, as a general principle, that, in the interests of trade between the two countries, it is undesirable that such an embargo should apply unless for indisputably cogent reasons. In this case, we are confident that the existence here of the disease in question does not constitute such a reason. Powdery scab affects only the skin of the tuber, and does not adversely affect tlio quantity or the quality of the yield. It is not regarded elsewhere as a serious disease at all, and, in the countries where it exists, general measures to eradicate it arc not considered to be- warranted. To meet Australia!! requirements, a thoroughly good system of inspection on tbe (arms and at the uorts has been instituted here, at great expense, and during the last two seasons, so far as we know, the disease was found in only one shipment, and we arc confident that no repetition of even this isolated occurrence is in Hie lea-,l probable. The export ol potatoes to Australia is of great importance to Hie New Zealand growers and merchant'-. owing to its effect on the local market. For this reason, and also on general grounds, my Government deeply regrets the proposed rcinstitutioii of tlie embargo, and earnestly requests that the matter shall receive Inrtheiconsideration before' the present decision takes effect.”