POTATO DISEASE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 8

POTATO DISEASE

(To: the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sir,—l oeo by the .papers' that Nen Zealand potatoes are prohibited from landing in Australia owing to a "disease." Naturally the. potato exploiters are very hurt, as no export means "cheap potatoes." Thjy cry out: "There is no disease." Just so. About two yeara ago our wide-awake New Zealand Government shut out tho. importation of Australian fruit trees,, which for the .past twenty years had been largely planted all over Now Zealand, giving as (heir reason that tho said trees had a "disease." . Tho Australian nuraerymen protested they had "no disease," the very same class, of tioea .were being planted in hundreds of thousands all over Australia; and Tasmania. , In order to settle matters tho Now Zealand Government dispatched their chief officor of the Horticultural Department (Air , T. "W. Kirk) across tho waters to' investigate. After oxhavstivo -.nquirios and search for the "disease" throughout numerous orchards and nurseries of .the Commonwealth, the "disease" cculd not bo found, and the "chief" admitted so (to hio credit) to the interested parties concerned. Before leaving Australia, Mr Kirk promised them he would bring the matter before his department or. his return to New Zealand, with the object ;of. having the embargo removed. ')'o this day nothing has been done, although there have been repeated efforts by many of the New Zealand' fruitgrowers to admit tho trees, seeing that there is a shortage of New Zealand stone fruits for planting purposes. Bverything comes •to those who wait, and it" looks as if our neighbours across tho sea are "getting ono back." Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. JAMES HILL. Masforton.