SHORTAGE OF POTATOES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24749, 14 December 1945, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF POTATOES

♦ AUCKLAND POSITION market nearly bare “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, December 13. there was a moderate- rush by v«*i e 5i oldei ?i in Aucklan d for potatoes yesterday after the announcement that Wo y l< J be a shortage until the middle of January so that Pukekohe growers could fill an order for 800 tons for the Royal Navy in the Pacific. Stocks of potatoes in Auckland now are so low that unless a fairly bis shipment can be arranged from an outu * district the market will be bare « fhe week, in the opinion of the secretary of the Auckland Retailers Fruiterers’ Association, Mr C C. King. Potatoes in bags and half-bags started at some shops at 8 o clock yesterday morning and continued at most shops throughout the aa y-, £ ven if the quantiles requested could have been supplied, it was felt that people would be unable to store them properly and many would be wasted. The majority of shopkeepers adopted a system of rationing to conserve limited stocks and to endeavour to distribute them equitably. In spite of the statement that the Navy order did not mean that Auckland would receive no supplies of potatoes from Pukekohe until January. Mr King felt that few would actually be available from that source. The markets on Tuesday were bare of potatoes and none was received from Pukekohe. Inquiries were being made about the prospects of obtaining supplies frorn Hawke’s Bay, but the shortage of shipping presented difficulties. A factor contributing towards the present potato shortage was the operafi°n of the price control, continued Mr King. Up to November the Price Tribunal provided for fortnightly price adjustments, but one rate applied for the whole of December. Growers were therefore inclined to leave their crops as long as possible to obtain a heavier yield. If they could be induced to dig their potatoes, Mr King thought that the supplies from local districts as far south as Pokeno would be sufficient to tide the Auckland market over until the Navy order was filled.

Merchants who previously bought potatoes direct from Pukekohe for distribution to grocers would now have to look to the markets for supplies and this would leave fewer for greengrocers, Mr King concluded. However one beneficial effect of the order was that the usual glut of potatoes just after Christmas would be avoided.