POTATO EMBARGO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 26, 12 November 1935, Page 8

POTATO EMBARGO

“PLAYTHING OF POLITICS.” Interesting comment upion what he described as pseudo-political embargoes on exports, with spiecial reference to the Australian embargo against New Zealand piotatoes, was made in an address to the Hastings Chamber of Commerce by Mr R. H. Nesbitt (Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand), states the “Hawke’s Bay Tribune.” Mr Nesbitt said it was a matter for regret that the principle of the embargo, which was fitted only for scientific treatment, should be made the plaything of politics. The fault in that respect lay on both sides of the Tasman. For example, the constituents of a certain Australian politician might say: “Let New Zealand potatoes in, and out you go.” The pirice of potatoes Zealand last week, said Mr Nesbitt, was such that Australian potatoes could ‘ have been shipped from Sydney to New Zealand and have undersold the local product. During the past five years the average price in Sydney had not been beyond £5 10s a ton, but in certain months in certain years the price had risen as high as £23 a ton. It was then that the New Zealand growers said that they ought to have the right to ship to Australia. The Australian growers’ attitude was that they carried the market when it was low, and therefore they were entitled to it when it was high. The New Zealand growers wanted to ship to Australia when the p;rice was £23, hut not when it was £5 3s. Actually the cost of shipping to Australia, according to a recent quotation, ivas £5 7s a ton. In Australia there were 110,000 acres of potatoes pflanted every year. So far as could be ascertained tho production was 400,000 tons, and the consumption about 395,000 tons, so that there was a surplus of approximately 5000 tons a year. That was why Australia said that she did not want New Zealand potatoes.