AUCKLAND SHORT OF POTATOES

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25878, 10 August 1949, Page 6

AUCKLAND SHORT OF POTATOES

SHIPPING DELAYS MAIN CAUSE (New. Zealand Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 9. Stocks of potatoes on hand and immediately in sight for Auckland are less than sufficient for a week or 10 days. Retailers are already clarpouring for supplies but, regardless of the possibility of more serious wharf delays, representatives of the wholesale produce trade said to-day that there was a prospect of a serious shortage. Recent potato distributions have been substantially below the 12,000 or 15.000 bags normally handled by Auckland merchants.

The secretary of the Auckland Seed, Grain and Produce Merchants’ Association (Mr R, C. Haszard) said to-day that last year there had been a plentiful supply, of main crop potatoes and consumer requirements had been well satisfied during winter and spring. However, it had cost the country a large sum of money for the surplus which could not be used and for which growers received the Government’s guaranteed price. This year the main crop yield was light, although approximately the same area had been planted. It had become obvious that potatoes w’ould be scarce in the etffrly spring but so far the cause appeared to be the shipping hold-up rather than the light crop. “It is not our place to say who is to blame but we think it is time the retailers and public were told of the wholesalers’ difficulties.” Mr Haszard continued. “Months ago wholesalers made the best possible provision by buying sufficient South Island potatoes to meet Auckland’s winter demand but envisaged a shortage in the early spring. Unfortunately potatoes have lain in ships in the Auckland harbour for weeks at a time when they Should have been distributed while in good order.”