POTATO EXPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 127, 11 March 1939, Page 6

POTATO EXPORT

LIFTING OF AUSTRALIAN BAN. OPINION IN CHRISTCHURCH. REGARDED AS POLITICAL MOVE. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, Alarch 10. The announcement by-.the Prime Minister of Australia (Air J. A. Lyons) that the Federal Government had decided to permit the importation of 250 tons of potatoes weekly from Now Zea-~ land for the next Lour weeks, is regarded localiy as a political move from which the New Zealand grower is likely to benefit very little. There is practically no chance of any potatoes being shipped to Australia, this month, because the New Zealand crop is not ripe, and will not bo ripening uhtil well on in April. To dig potatoes for export now before the frosts have arrived would probably end in disaster. It js more than likely that the potatoes would not be in good condition when they arrived in Australia, and if they were not, Australia would be conveniently provided with an additional excuse for not lifting the embargo altogether. What attitude the Commonwealth Government intends to adopt at the end of four weelcs is not, of course, known, but the prospects for further opportunity for export from New Zealand are not considered encouraging. The recent heavy rains in Australia may not be too late to benefit the crops there and it is possible that New Zealand potatoes will not be wanted later iir the season. In the meantime the local market has firmed considerably. To-day’s quotations ranged from £6 10s to £7 10s a ton. There has been little change in other markets over the week.

SMALL EFFECT ON MARKET. VIEWS OF DUNEDIN AIERCHANTS DUNEDIN, March 10. Neither growers nor merchants have much cause fpr jubilation at the decision of the Australian Federal Government to permit the importation of a limited quantity of New Zealand -potatoes into Australia, according to statements, made by a representative of the trade. The limitation of imports to 250 tons a week is regarded as hopelessly inadequate from the point of view of merchants on both sides of the Tasman. “Two hundred and fifty tons will be like a drop in the ocean to the market,” said one merchant, “and it will be of practically no material benefit to the New Zealand market., It is doubtful whether such a slight addition to the stocks in Australia will hav;e any effect on the exorbitant rates ruling for potatoes in the Commonwealth, and the withdrawal of such quantities cannot be expected to do much to improve, the price of potatoes in this country.” Continuing, lie said that the potato market in* New Zealand had lately ben buoyed up by anticipations of a new outlet for local stocks but merchants would now be far from anxious to operate, and it was probable that there would be a weakening in the market from its present level of about £8 to £9 a ton. «

Current rates for potatoes on Australian markets range from £l7 to £22 10s a ton. I NOT NECESSARILY LIMITED. . REVIEW FROM TIME TO TIME. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. Mr Lyons last night deprecated any attempt to associate the New Zealand potato question with the export of oranges' from Australia to New* Zealand. “The Government’s decision,” added Mr Lyons, “to allow* the restricted importation of New* Zealand potatoes w*as not necessarily confined ■to the four weeks mentioned in the official announcement.” Mr Lyons emphasised that the position w*ould he reviewed from time to time, strictly in the light of Australian conditions and requirements, and that the interests of Australian growers would always be considered. • “It is felt in official circles that the present limited import w*ill provide a valuable tost period from which a more permanent understanding may be derived. GLUT REPORTED IN TASMANIA. INQUIRY AS TO PRICES. SYDNEY, March 10. Coinciding with the’ Federal Government’s decision comes news of the worst glut of potatoes that north-west-ern Tasmania has iknown for many years. A rec'ord consignment of potatoes is being collected at Bernie for shipment, and a heavy drop in prices is expected when these reach the Syd-< ney market next week. Because of the marked disparity between the price that is paid for potatoes by shops and the price paid by the public, the Director of the State Mai*keting Bureau has ordered' a special investigation into the retail price of potatoes.