“DEPRESSING THE MARKET”

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 13

“DEPRESSING THE MARKET”

♦"■! '■ ’ Current Prices For Potatoes COMMENT BY FARMERS* UNION A suggestion that someone , might be trying to depress; the potato market so that potatoes would be available “when they .were wanted,” was made by Mr J. W, D. Hall at the monthly meeting of the North Canterbury provincial. executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday. “In any case I think there is room: lor inquiry,” added Mr Hall. It was finally decided on Mr Hall’s motion to write to the Director of Internal Marketing (Mr F. B. Picot) asking him to clarify the policy adopted in the stabilising of prices. Mr Hall added that Mr Picot was reported to have said that .the local price of potatoes had been fixed at £3 a ton, yet the prices had been no more than £2 10s, and had actually been quoted in the newspapers at £1 10s. Some more information was necessary. “Mr Picot has denied that he ever announced the fixing of the price, said Mr G. F. Brown. “All he said was that prices were becoming firmer.^ “They are even becoming • that, commented Mr A. E. G. Lyttle. The discussion had been based on the report of the agricultural committee presented by Mr R. G. Bishop. Potato prices were good in Australia, he said. Although it was now late in the season the committee felt that some action should be taken. Farmers in the Ellesmere district were prepared to grow more potatoes as long as there was an outlet for them. At the same time the committee wished to emphasise that only the best potatoes were exported. It often, happened that there was a 50 per cent, rejection of potatoes inspected before they were, sent to the stores.