“INDUSTRIES OF ADVERSITY”

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27148, 18 September 1953, Page 10

“INDUSTRIES OF ADVERSITY”

PIG PRODUCTION AND POTATO GROWING MR HAYMAN’S VIEW OF LOWER OUTPUT (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON September 17. Pig production ana potato growing were industries of adversity, and it was a measure of the country’s prosperity that production in both was falling, said Mr T. L. Hayman (Government. Oamaruk speaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives today. Confronted by the numerous hazards in potato growing, many farmers had been attracted by the returns possible from stock raising, he said. Mr Hayman said that whereas once virgin land on being broken in was frequently planted in crops, today it was carrying stock. Crops in virgin soil were outstandingly healthy, with high yields, but (today the industry was trying to meet New Zealand needs on disease-ridden land. He thought the New Zealand farmer and the Department of Agriculture were poorly fitted to combat this inrush of disease. Mr Hayman said he considered that 20.000 acres of potatoes would be grown next season. The taxation that potato growers had to pay had been a deterrent to the increase of acreage. His advice to buyers of potatoes today was to he hesitant hi paying the prices asked. He had seen old potatoes being sold as new potatoes in Wellington at Is lOd per, lb. There had never been a controlled price imposed on new potatoes. The Labour Government had attempted to get some degree of control by putting on ceiling prices, but the scheme had failed. He urged home gardeners to- make themselves self-sufficient in potatoes. The Potato Board, he added, was conscious of its responsibility to the public, and it looked forward to the ' day when it could supply Australia with potatoes, which were being sold 1 in Sydney today at £7O a ton.

perity > falling, ment, Oamaru)