UNECONOMIC

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 194, 18 August 1942, Page 3

UNECONOMIC

ROOT CROP PRICES

CHECK ON PRODUCTION

Dissatisfaction among buyers was again widespread at the city produce markets to-day, when further dealing took place in root crops and pumpkins at the new fixed maximum prices.

Auctioneers had an unenviable task in attempting to apportion those lines of vegetables worth more than the ceiling rates. On one floor there were four times as many buyers for kumaras as supplies available.

Growers appear to' be unanimous in their opinion that early spring crops cannot be grown at present prices, unless the Government makes an allowance for a higher price for these lines as in the case of potatoes.

The situation was discussed by the Auckland Chinese Market Gardeners' Association last evening, and to-day it sent a telegram to the Prime Minister pointing out that members had 15 acres of carrots planted and ready to be thinned out. The Government fixed prices would not pay for weeding and digging. The association asked whether members should continue to grow the carrots or plant something else. Typical of the predicament of many growers is that of Mr. H. R. King, of Mangere. who to-day forwarded the following telegram to the Prime Minister: '"Like other growers, I am just ready to plant early pumpkins, but cannot grow for the maximum prices. What am I to do?"

Mr. King said the main pumpkin crop last year was a failure, and the early crops now planted would mature about November. Normally they would fetch 7d a lb or over 63/ a cwt. but the fixed maximum was 21/ a cwt. These early maturing Red Warrens required constant attention and protection from frosts and rats. One Birkenhead grower in the habit of sending tons of pumpkins to the market annually, adopted the practice of painting the stalks of each pumpkin to avoid moisture entering and causing rot. Moreover, each plant had to be set out singly to minimise the ravages of rats, and covered every night as a precaution against frost. In connection with the main crop of pumpkins, said Mr. King, growers packed and stored them in April and May. but owing to deterioration onlv about half were usually available for sale. The longer the pumpkins were stored the greater the loss through rotting. With the prosent uneconomic prices growers would not continue to keep their produce and increase the risk of loss. He predicted that if the present values continued there would be no pumpkins left by July.