AUSTRALIAN APPLE AND PEAR IMPORTERS COMMITTEE (Monopoly on importation)

Mr Lee Choon Eng asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry-

(a) whether he is aware that an Apple and Pear Importers Committee has been set up in Singapore by Australia and that that Committee confines the importation of Australian apples and pears into Singapore to only thirteen firms;

(b) whether he is satisfied that this monopoly has not and will not cause hardship to businessmen who were previously allowed to import those fruits freely and that the prices of those fruits to consumers have not increased and will not increase consequent upon the quantities imported being smaller than the quantities imported before the Committee was set up; and

(c) what the Government has done and intends to do in the matter and in particular whether the Government has made representations to the Australian Authorities against the monopoly with the view to restoring the free importation of those fruits at an early date.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Yes, Sir, I am aware that such a Committee has been set up in Singapore by the Australian Apple and Pear Board. The Committee now comprises 12 members, one member having resigned some time ago.

I am satisfied that the existence of this importers' Committee not only causes hardship to the dealers who are not on the Committee but is also not in the best interests of Singapore consumers. In fact, the Committee is designed to serve the interests of Australian producers.

Government thoroughly dislikes such monopolistic cartels and has made repeated representations to the Ministry of Trade in Australia with a view to its early dissolution. In spite of the Ministry's repeated representations, the Committee is still in being and the only concession made so far by the Australian Board was to remove ceilings on imports in 1956. I am at present, Sir, discussing this matter with the Australian Trade Mission.