AUSTRALIAN POTATOES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN POTATOES.

IMPORTATION OPPOSED.

PUKEKOHE GROWERS PROTEST.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PUKEKOHE, this day

4 'airly well attended meeting of I luekohe potato growers was held last evening to discuss the question of the importation to Xew Zealand of large quantities of Australian potatoes.

The chairman, Mr. 0. Heerdegen, said the importation of Australian potatoes was a matter for the New Zealand producers. There were large quantities of Southern potatoes available, but the merchants would not look at them, claiming that the price asked was too high, yet they paid a bigger price for tlia Australian product. Pukekohe glowers would be affected. If Australian importations continued there would be a certain overcarry in the south to next season, and consequently a low price would be the result, for early potatoes in the initial part of the new season. The speaker contended that the price asked for southern potatoes was not high by any means, anil did not warrant importation from a neighbouring country. He maintained that the action of certain merchants waa totally unfair, and the only reason he could see for their action was that they were making a much bigger profit on the imported article to the detriment of the New Zealand grower. He believed that seven Auckland merchants had imported hundreds of tons of potatoes and were pushing off the Australian potatoes and prejudicing the sale of the southern. In other words an effort was being made to bear the market to suit their own ends. One-sided Business. Mr.' F. Perkins, a local produce merchant. considered the importation of Australian potatoes as grossly unfair, especially as an embargo was placed ou Xew Zealand potatoes by the Australian Government. He considered the Xew Zealand Government was not doing its duty by the Xew Zealand growers in permitting such a one-sided business, and urged that representations be made to the Government to arrange that no Australian potatoes be allowed to enter the Dominion unless Xew Zealand potatoes were permitted to be exported to Australia. He said that Dominion growers were not getting a fair deal.

Another representative of a produce firm, Mr. H. J. Sumner, said he favoured restrictions being placed on the importation of Australian potatoes until such time as the embargo imposed on Xew Zealand potatoes by the Commonwealth Government was removed.

After further discussion _ the following resolution was passed unanimously, copies of which are to be forwarded to the .Ministers of Agriculture. Customs and Railways, and the Member for Franklin, Mr: E.D. MeLcnnan: "That this meeting of Pukekohe and Franklin potato growers emphatically protests against the importation of Australian potatoes into Xew Zealand. If the importation continues the growers will be forced to market potatoes at well under the cost of pro* duction. Australia prohibits Xew Zealand potatoes without any sound reason. In 1023 the growers were faced with the same unfair competition. The Commonwealth Government protects its small farmer, surely ours can do the same and give us British fair play." _ A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. 0. Hecrdcgen, E. J. Campbell, P. Miller, C. H. Mason and F. Perkins, was appointed to further the interests of growers in this respect. Producers to Unite. Subsequent to the consideration of the main business before the meeting suggestion was made that a growers' organisation should be constituted so that such matters could be taken up and brought under the notice of the authorities. The meeting unanimously affirmed the principle of the formation of a Produce Association in Pukekohe, and a subcommittee was appointed to submit proposals to a meeting to be con\ encd later.