MARKETING OF POTATOES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 12

MARKETING OF POTATOES

“GROWERS HAVE REASON TO FEEL HOPEFUL” POSITION DISCUSSED BY MR W. W. MULHOLLAND Potato.growers had reason to feel hopeful that the problem of marketing their produce would be settled satisfactorily, said Mr W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, when discussing a remit before the monthly meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury branch cf the union yesterday. The remit, which was forwarded by the Kaiapoi branch, requested “That the provincial executive be asked to call a conference to consider the position regarding the exportation of potatoes.” Mr Mulholland said that the matter had been concerning the Farmers’ Union for some time, and the Farmers’ Union had actually approached the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) in the hope that he might be able to do something about it. He understood that the Minister for Agriculture had been engaged on the problem when the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. Walter Nash) had interested himself in it. “I don’t know whether Mr Nash’s interference will strengthen his prestige either in the Cabinet nr among the public,” remarked Mr Mulholland, “but I certainly think that it has put potato growers in a strong position, as the Minister for Marketing will now have to do something to justify his interest in their problem. The Farmers’ Union has been interested in the potatogrowers’ difficulties for some months and had gone some distance with the Minister for Agriculture in finding a solution for those difficulties. In view of what has now arisen potato growers would be advised to act quickly. A conference should certainly be called to discuss the exportation of potatoes as soon as possible.” It was decided to refer the question to the agricultural committee for further consideration.