POTATOES FROM AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29316, 22 September 1960, Page 14

POTATOES FROM AUSTRALIA

Grower’s Criticism Of Northern Merchants

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Sept. 21.

Every industry in New Zealand was allowed to make a reasonably good profit, with the benefit of all sorts of protections, except the potato industry, a leading Southland grower said today. He was commenting on the .action of the Governemnt in sanctioning the importation of 500 tons of Australian potatoes to meet a threatened shortage in Auckland. “The only reason Auckland merchants have asked for importations is because they refused to pay the reasonable prices sought by South Inland growers earlier in the season.” he said. There was no doubt, the grower said, that merchants in Auckland and Wellington determined the New Zealand market. They knew they could “wield the big stick” and this year had refused to pay the price—which by no stretch of the imagination could be called exorbitant—asked in the South Island. “Christchurch merchants, for instance, might have wanted £3O a ton," he said “But the big boys up north decided that they would pay only £2s—less than the price potatoes were bringing on the Christchurch market.

‘.‘Now they are saying there were no potatoes in the South Island and imports are required.” The imported potatoes would undoubtedly be dearer than those grown at home and the situation was more ridiculous because there was no serious shortage in New Zealand.