EMBARGO ON N.Z. POTATOES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 11 March 1939, Page 15

EMBARGO ON N.Z. POTATOES

REGULATED ENTRY TO

BE ALLOWED ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY MR LYONS ! REPORTED GLUT OF SUPPLIES IN TASMANIA (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIOHT.) (Received March 10, 11.55 p.m.) - CANBERRA, March 10. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) announced that the Government has decided to permit the importation of tons of potatoes weekly from New Zealand for the next four weeks.

Mr Lyons added that it was not proposed to permit unlimited importations, but so to regulate their entry that the Australian growers would receive adequate protection. He said that the Government had always been ready to protect the Australian potato grower, who, at times, encountered serious' difficulties, but, in justice to the consumers, it must be agreed that the present acute shortage should be relieved.

Coinciding with the Federal Government’s decision comes news of the worst glut of potatoes that north-western Tasmania has known for many years. A record consign* ment of potatoes is being collected 1 at Bernie for shipment, and a heavy drop in prices is expected when these reach the Sydney 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 Marketing Bureau has ordered a special investigation into the retail price of potatoes. Mr Lyons to-night deprecated any attempt to associate the New Zealand potato question with the export of oranges from Australia to New Zealand. He added that the Government decision to allow restricted importation of New Zealand potatoes was not necessarily confined to the four weeks mentioned in the official announcement.

Mr Lyons emphasised that the position would be reviewed from time to time strictly in the light of Australian conditions and requirements, and that the interests of the Australian growers would always be considered. It is felt in official circles that the present limited import will provide a valuable test period from which a more permanent understanding may be derived.

ADVICE RECEIVED BY GOVERNMENT

COMPLYING WITH CONDITIONS (FBESS ASSOCIATION TB LEG-SAX.) WELLINGTON, March 10. The Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) stated to-day that the Government had received from Australia advice agreeing to the import of up to 250 tons of potatoes a week, and arrangements were now being made to comply with the several conditions suggested by the Australian Government. SMALL EFFECT ON N.Z. MARKET VIEWS OF DUNEDIN

MERCHANTS

O’BISS ASSOCIATION TELIGSAIA.)

DUNEDIN, March 10,

Neither growers nor merchants have much cause for 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 Australian 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 have any effect on the exorbitant rates ruling for potatoes in the Commonwealth, and the withdrawal of such quantities cannot ba expected to do much to improve the price of potatoes in this country.” Continuing, he said that the potato market in New Zealand had lately been 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. LOWER YIELD PREDICTED

CANTERBURY POTATO CROP

(From Our Own Reporter.)

TEMUKA, March 10.

Mr *R. A. McGillivray, Canterbury fields superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, basing his theory on test diggings conducted in North and Mid-Canterbury and parts of South Canterbury, told a reporter from “The Press” at Temuka, that the potato yield would be down about 25 per cent, on last year. The decrease could be attributed to the dry season and the fact that the potatoes had matured early. Potato growers at Temuka expect a yield of at least five or six tons an acre, and at Seadown the figure is slightly higher and the yield will probably average six to seven tons an acre. Recent rain has not been enough to soften the hardened ground appreciably and it is likely that the potatoes wl. n dug will be fairly dirty. Most of the potatoes are small.