Fruit For N.Z.

New Duty on Bananas

Proposed

Problem For Fiji And

Tonga

AN item of considerable importance to planters in Fiji and Tonga is contained in the monthly notes issued by the Cook Islands Administration to growers, in March, 1931.

It appears that the Cook Islands authorities have been making urgent representations to the New Zealand Government on the question of giving protection to Cook Islands produce in the New Zealand market. The Cook Islands, as is generally known, is a dependency of New Zealand.

Apparently, the New Zealand Government is giving the matter attention. There has lately been a very businesslike interchange of radiograms and letters between Rarotonga and Wellington.

It is officially stated that the proposals are: That a duty of 2d. per lb. be imposed on foreign bananas.

A duty of 1d. per lb. on bananas from outside of New Zealand Territory.

Similar duties on citrus fruits from April to October.

It is not quite clear from this whether Samoa is to get the same treatment as the Cook Islands. But it certainly means that Fiji and Tonga, who send a good deal of fruit to New Zealand, will be placed under some disadvantage.

It really does appear as if the time has come when Fiji and Tonga should examine their position and see whether it is not possible to make representations to both the Australian and New Zealand Governments in a manner that will be noticed. Each Dominion is inclined to impose heavy tariffs against Fijian and Tongan fruit, with bad results on the primary industries of those island territories, and it is time that the other side of the picture was presented. Each Dominion is eager to obtain more overseas trade.

The very considerable value of Fiji’s import trade might be emphasised, for instance; and it might be shown that the effect of shutting out Fiji fruit is to also shut out trade with Fiji worth hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum.