NEW ZEALAND VEGETABLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1939, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND VEGETABLES

AUSTRALIAN BAR. MENACE OF •WHITE BUTTERFLY USED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “For some time past Sydney merchants have been operating in New Zealand in the purchase of various classes of vegetables, to meet the shortage occasioned by drought, conditions in Australia, stated the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon W. Lee Martin, in an interview today. “At the request of the Federal authorities regulations had beta gazetted in New Zealand, prohibiting the export , of vegetables to Australia, except with the consent of the Minister for Customs,” continued Mr Lee Martin. “These regulations were designed mainly to ensure that any vegetables shipped were properly packed in new containers. The Federal authorities now had become concerned with the possibility of the white butterfly being introduced through such importations, and I am. in receipt of information that regulations are to be gazetted immediately, requiring that all lettuce a'nd vegetables belohging to the cabbage and turnip .family, .intended for export from New. Zealand to Australia, must be accompanied by a certificate that such produce has been produced in a district free from the white butterfly, and that the produce has been rigidly inspected, for the presence of the white butterfly caterpillar. It will bo necessary, therefore, for merchants to obtain such a certificate before any vegetables of the above types are exported. It will be appreciated that strict enforcement of the requirements of the Federal authorities-means a virtual embargo, on the export of cabbage, cauliflower, bro'ccoli, brUssels sprouts, turnips, etc., to Australia, but it is hoped that some arrangements may be made whereby vegetable exports will be allowed at certain times of the year without undue restriction. . It is to' be regretted that this trade, which has assumed some promise during recent months, will now be jeopardised, but it is recognised that the Australian authorities are desirous of avoiding the introduction of the white butterfly if at all possible.”