FRUITGROWERS SEEK PROTECTIVE TARIFF

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 361, 23 May 1928, Page 16

FRUITGROWERS SEEK PROTECTIVE TARIFF

NOTE OF WARNING LEMON DUTY DISCUSSED “I would like to sound a note of warning to growers on the danger of rushing in for duties,” said a member of the Auckland Provincial Fruitgrowers’ Council at yesterday's conference. The necessity for an increased duty cn imported cherries was stressed by Mr. Tate. The New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, he submitted, with due respect, had almost become an export association for apples and pears. He hoped it would fully consider the interests of stone and citrus fruit-growers. Another member averred that grapegrowers had sought an embargo on importations, but their request had been ignored, with the result that downy mildew had been introduced into the country. A duty on South African dried apricots, to restrict their importation, was advocated, on account of the relatively small proportion of whit© labour employed and the cheaper cost of production in that country. Lemon-growers, it was stated, appreciated the support of non-lemon growing interests, and the principle of protection for other lines in the fruit industry should be sustained. Mr. S. W. House: We are unanimously of the opinion that the lemon duty should remain. We have worked too hard to allow it to be taken off. There had been a great deal of propaganda by Southern merchants concerning the lemon duty, continued Mr. House, and they were bringing pressure to bear in every quarter in an attempt to have it lifted. Tauranga had a large quantity of lemons waiting for orders, yet Christchurch merchants had reported that lemons were dull of sal© and not required. They apparently were making more out of the imported lemon than in commission from the local fruit. The growers, wer© arming themselves with ample evidence on the subject. If a shortage should really exist, they could obtain a good quantity in Australia. Other growers reported that while Southern buyers complained they could not obtain lemons, they had received no extra orders to indicate a demand. A member said he could assure growers that lemons flourished astoundingly in the Cook Islands. No effort had been made to produce them, otherwise the same trouble would have developed as with, tomatoes..