TARIFF ON FRUIT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1932, Page 5

TARIFF ON FRUIT

N.Z. IMPOSITION

NEW NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN.-

{Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, December 19

'Representatives of the exporters and (shipping companies interviewed the Federal Minister of Commerce, Mr Stewart, to-day in regard to th e New Zealand embargo on Australian fruit and vegetables. Mr Stewart later stated that fresh negotiations had been begun with New Zealand with the object of impressing the Dominion Government that whatever action had been taken against New Zealand produce wa s fo r reasons of public health. However, efforts were now being made to straighten out tlie difficulty. He would have a conference immediately with the Federal Minister of Health, Mr Mart. The New Zealand embargo against Australian fruity i s expected to react seriously against the irrigation areas in New South Wales, which have worked up a large trade in New Zealand for citrus fruits. Jn an average year to Griffiths Producers Company, alone, exports upward of , s ixty thousand bushels of oranges to New Zealand,

There is no disposition at Griffith to blame New Zealand for its retaliatory action, ns local growers persistently agitated against the embargoes on the importation of fruit to Australia, pointing out the inevitable retaliation would wreck Australia's growing export trade in fruits,