MARKETING OF POTATOES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27794, 20 October 1955, Page 10

MARKETING OF POTATOES

MEETING OF GROWERS FAVOURS FREEDOM Potato growers who met in Christchurch on Tuesday- confirmed the opinion of a previous meeting favouring abolition of the Potato Board and a return to free marketing of potatoes. The meeting, attended by more than 50 growers, was unanimous. Forty of

those present were contract growers; 13 were non-contract growers. The Potato Board represents only contract growers. Earlier it was agreed to ask the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) for a direct reply to the resolution of the previous meeting that a postal ballot be held on the return to free marketing. The Minister had stated that he would discuss the matter with members of the Potato Board. A later letter from the Acting Minister of Agriculture (Mr S. W. Smith) said that the board had invited representatives of growers’ organisations to meet the board. “At the meeting, the board intends to give the opportunity to those attending to discuss matters pertaining to the potato industry with a view, if possible, to placing the organisation of the industry on a basis most acceptable to the majority of growers,” said Mr Smith. Speakers held that the reply to the meeting’s letter had been side-stepped. It was reported that the board failed to arrange a meeting of representatives of growers. The chairman (Mr D. Goode) said that very little had been done by the board towards the export of potatoes. The board was doubtful whether there was a surplus; there was no doubt among the growers, he said.

Merchants had done much work to try to export potatoes to Australia, said Mr T. Mundy. Mr Goode said there should be free competition, when the sale of South Island potatoes in the North Island was discussed.