HIGHER POTATO PRICES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25328, 30 October 1947, Page 6

HIGHER POTATO PRICES

INCREASE OF 15/- A TON

COMPENSATION FOR NEW COSTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 29. Increased costs fb .growers of main crop potatoes caused the removal of subsidies, increased labour costs, and higher transport charges had led to the review of prices for the main 194748 potato crop, said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr E. L.. Cullen) to-day. An all-round increase of 15s a ton in growers’ maximum prices for produce delivered from next March onwards has been approved and growers would also be entitled to make an extra charge to cover the cost of sacks. The effect of this adjustment, said Mr Cullen, was to raise growers’ prices for South Island potatoes f.a.q. grade Suttons, King Edward, and Dakota varieties delivered from March to June inclusive to £lO a ton f.d.b with increments from July onward's which would bring the November price £ ton f° b . s.e. Prices for other South Island-grown varieties would be 10s a ton below those for group ieS in the Premium North Island growers would be paid £ll 15s a ton f.o.r. s.e. fdr f.a.q. potatoes all varieties from March to June rising to £l5 a ton for November deliveries. Underbade potatoes would be paid tor at £1 a .ton below the correspo^inV>r?C6s tor f.a.q. potatoes. u _T" e Minister said no decision had yet about potatoes grown £3fSLa® u t as these were already planted an immediate announcement was less essential than for main crop 22S tO6S ’? he Panting of which °n had not yet been begun An announcement of the reprices for the earlier crops w2? I rea b ch^. a<ie S °° n as a dediio °