CHEAP IMPORTED FRUIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 558, 10 January 1929, Page 10

CHEAP IMPORTED FRUIT

GROWERS SEEK HIGHER DUTIES DEPUTATION TO MINISTER ' Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. j How the importation of various fruits, dried fruits, cucumbers, tomatoes and onions worried the New Zealand producer was the burden of a deputation to the Minister of Agriculture to-day. Mr. F. Cone, of the Fruitgrowers’ Federation, said that plenty of fruit for all requirements was produced in New Zealand. Some countries dumped fruit in New Zealand at tlie glut periods. There was a duty of 2d a lb on cherries and the growers asked for 4d. There was a duty of 2d a lb on apples, except during three months when it was reduced to Id a lb. An enormous quantity of cucumbers was grown in Australia, and they competed with the New Zealand hothouse products. The growers. asked* for a duty of 6d a lb on these. The fac- I tories were importing large quantities ! of raspberry pulp from Australia, on | which the deputation asked for 4d a lb j duty. South African dried apricots and ! peaches, produced by native labour, J were being imported. Through an i oversight no duty had been imposed on j dried apricots from South Africa, ! although there was a duty on Austra- ; lian apricots. They asked for a duty ! of 6d a lb on all dried fruit. An enormous quantity of canned fruit came from California and Australia and the growers asked for a duty of 50 per cent, on this. Referring to Cook Islands tomatoes, Mr. D. G. Sullivan. M.P., said the problem was a constitutional one. The islands were a portion of the Dominion and it would be difficult to place a tariff on one portion of the Dominion. Mr. G. Bilson said in importing fruit there was always the risk of introducing fresh diseases. Australian tinned fruit carried a Government subsidy which was unfair competition. Mr. F. Sisson spoke against the importation of Japanese onions. Mr. C. Fineran, president of the Tomato and Stone Fruitgrowers’ Association, and Mr. H. T. Armstrong, M.P., also spoke in support of the requests. Mr. Forbes said his own feeling was that every measure of reasonable protection should be given. The whole position of the imposition of duties was for Parliament to decide. He could assure them he realised the seriousness of the position. He was trying to encourage the intensive cultivation of small areas of land. New Zealand should be able to supply the whole of the fruit required for the country. He felt that protection could be given to the small industries, and he would place the matter before Cabinet.