Tonga’S
p. 89 · Read in the full issue
Nz Firm On
Tomatoes
The New Zealand Govern ment in late May was standing firm against demands that it reduce the 1979 quota for Ton gan tomato imports of 400 tonnes. The New Zealand
glasshouse growers (yearly pro
duction in excess of 20 000 tonnes) originally wanted a reduction from last year’s quota of 320 tonnes, claiming that even that quantity upset the market balance by causing a reduction in auction prices
whenever a Tongan shipment
arrived.
It is believed, however, that Tongan imports last year fell well short of quota, Tongan sources saying only 250 tonnes were shipped, while the New Zealand Vegetable and Pro duce Growers’ Federation is quoted as saying it believed only 110 tonnes arrived in New Zealand.
The federation has again urged the NZ Government to encourage all Islands growers to concentrate on sub tropical produce rather than vegetables which compete with New
Zealand producers.
Tongan and other Islands tomatoes in fact only compete with the glasshouse grower who, these days, is either a hy droponic or other types of soil less cultivator.
New Zealand’s Department of Trade and Industry says the government ‘reserves the right to increase import allocations to Tonga to a specified level, whether or not Tonga fills its
import allocation’.
The department, in fact, is believed to have serious doubts about whether the expensive
glasshouse industry is a
rational use of energy and financial resources.