Minutes of Evidence p.1401-1509 - Parliament of Victoria

1485
50183. By JYir. Longmore.-Do you know what fruit is principally imported from Tasmania ?-At
the present time there is nothing coming, but at certain times of the year it does come. If you will
mention the time, I can tell you. In ,January certain jam fruits come across, such as raspberry and black
currants. They only "come when our crop .here is small.
50184. Are you aware, from your own knowledge, what fruit is grown principally in Tasmania?-
Yes-apples, pears, plums, and jam fruits, such as currants and raspberries ; those are the leading articles.
50185. Are you not aware that apples are the principal fruit grown?-Yes.
50186. By far the largest ?-Undoubtedly.
50187. You said just now that it did not matter about the duty upon apples, as we have not any
apples from Tasmania ?-Excuse me.
50188. A very small quantity ?-And I remarked, if you remember, that we had but a small portion,
and we commenced importing as soon as our own crop was exhausted.
50I89. \Ve have a return of imports here from Tasmania, the quantity iu 1881 was 26,251
bushels "?-Yes.
50190. Would not that be principally apples ?-Largely apples ; a great many of those would be
exported, or, in other words, tn:msshipped, but I look upon tlu1t as quite a small quantity; neady as many
as that quantity you mention weut into Sydney in fourteen clays this season. .J llSt two boats took over
23,000 cases, and that is what we received the whole year rouml.
50I91. I know that. I was across in Tasmania some time ago, and I was told then that every
orchard in Tasmania was purchased by Victorian merchants ?-Yes.
50192. Every orchard ?-Of course many a thing is said that is not true, and that is among them;
that is only trne relatively.
50193. Do you know whether apples are as cheap in Tasmania as here ?-They are worth rather
more money than they are here at the present time, and as to your remark about purchase by Victorians,
take my ow11 instance. My brother is a resident there. Suppose he bought-I could give 11ames of some
of the large growers, if necessary, that we bought from-Your remarks might apply that they were bought
by a Victorian, because we are o11e ill business, but the bulk of the goods go to Sydney.
50194. But I mean they were bought to come to Victoria ?-No, they were not bought to come to
Victoria ; the bulk go to Sydney.
50195. Was Victoria supplying itself with apples do you know when the Tariff was put on ?-No, it
was gragually growing towards it, that is all.
50196. Was it growi11g towf1rds it at the same rate that it has been since ?-Yes, I think so ; I
bought apples eight years ago at Is. 6d. a bushel here. The crops here are somewhat irregular. This
has been an exceptional year. Last year there was nothing approaching the same quantity, but we have a
right to expect that every year there >vill be a large increase.
, 50197. Do you feel that your interest as an importer is in any way antagonistic to the interest of the
growc1· ?-Not at all. I would as soon buy of the grower as I would import. It is all a question of getting
a trifle out of it.
50198. But do you think the growers do not get a higher figure in consequence of the tax ?-I am
perfectly sure they do not at this time of the year. They may just at the finish when they have little
remaining, but upon the whole they do not get any benefit from it.
50199. Do you think that as a whole the duty upon fruit has had any effect in steadying the market?
I think it had some time ago, but I do not think it does it now, we are past that point, but there was a time
when they had undoubtedly a benefit from it.
50200. If they have benefited from it, how could you advocaLe the taking of it away ?-I should
think they ought to be able to walk alone now.
50201. 'rhat is their business altogether?-Yes. Then I would put it another wf1y if you think well.
Is it quite fair for us to impose so heavily upon other people when we make u~e of their markets, for I can
prove easily the exportation this year is greatly in excess of the importation.
50202. Do the other people complain ?-They would like it off. I have had letters from Adelaide
and from Sydney to see whether we could not get the duty reduced, but have never taken the trouble,
because I know the question is simply this, the public have to pay it.
50203. Do you think that the Tariff upon green fruit has had any efl'ect in causin~~; m to be very
large producers ?-It may hf1ve had a small effect just at the beginning, but not .since. vVlten first it was
put on it may have induced some people to go on f1nd pl::mt orchf1rds, but I think that hf1s pf1~sed now.
50204. By tlze Clwirman.-Mr. Longmore asks, does not the grower get a higher price in consequence
of the duty ?-I think 11ot, at present.
50205. If the growers did get a higher price, who would pay for it ?-The public, of course.
50206. By 1lf1'. Longmore.-Upon what do you base your idea ?-Only upon my experie11ce, that is
all.
50207. That the consumer pays 11 higher price now than he did formerly ?---Only that whatever the
cost is we cannot afford to live at a loss. \'Ve have to put a little profit on.
50208. If some men f1re inclined to live at a loss-- ?-I mn not.
The w£tness withdrew.
J. G. JohllSon,
continued~
Dth May 1883,
:Fra11cis Boardrnan Clapp sworn ancl examined.
50209. By the Chairman.-\'Vhat are you ?-Managing Director of the Melbourne Tramway and
Omnibus Company.
50210. I understand you desire to some evidence to the Commission upon the question ofmaize
and oats. This matter was inquired into to some extent yestcmby and yotuwere not present. · "\Vill you be
kind enough to state what what you wish to convey to the Commission, in what way the Tariff upon these
articles affects your particular businees ?-\'Ye are very large consumers of maize, oats, and barley. We
are feeding between 1400 and 1500 horses df1ily, and tlming twelve months we use 573 tons 16 cwt. 3qrs.
25 lbs. of maize ; and oats, I 085 tons ; barley 1684 tons. The duty upon maize is 1 s. n ee11tal, and on
F. B. Clnpp,
9th :Ylny 1883.
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