ANNOUNCEMENT WELCOMED

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 10

ANNOUNCEMENT WELCOMED

COMMENT BY BOARD’S CHAIRMAN

“The announcement of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) that the Government has approved the policy recommended by the Potato Board for the reorganisation of potato marketing in New Zealand will be received with a great deal of. satisfaction by the industry,’• said the chairman of the New Zealand Potato Board (Mr G. H. Blair) in Christchurch last evening. “The removal of price control at production and marketing levels will mean that sales will be made more on a personal basis, with the quality of produce and reciprocal goodwill between buyer and, seller dominating factors,” he said. “Under the new system, growers will get the protection from surplus production to which they are entitled. “All growers and merchants will get the same degree of flexibility in marketing that is necessary for trading

in such a perishable and notoriously variable commodity as potatoes, rather than just those who were prepared to break the law. “I believe that the public will welcome the new system for two reasons,” said Mr Blair. “The reasons are the emphasis on quality under freedom from price control at production and marketing levels, and because, though the .new system will enable the consumer to buy cheaper potatoes in times of plentiful supply, in times of short supply the consumer will be protected from exploitation by the maximum retail price.” Asked whether any progress had been made in exporting potatoes to Australia, Mr Blair said: “We are keeping in constant touch with Australia at the highest levels, with a view to facilitating the export of potatoes to Australia, if it is at all possible.”