Potato Board Reduces Levy On Grower Sales

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29368, 22 November 1960, Page 18

Potato Board Reduces Levy On Grower Sales

The Potato Board has decided to reduce its levy on potatoes sold by growers from 30s to 25s a ton as from March 1, 1961, the latest newsletter from the board says. The present funds of the board amount to about £175,000 and will not be depleted this year by a payout fpy surplus potatoes. By the end of next year it is expected that the funds will have increased to nearly £250.000 at which stage the board's administrative expenses will be covered by interest earnings and the fund should be sufficient to cover any moderate surplus. The board proposes to review the. situation each year, taking into account the size of the fund and the contract acreage for the ensuing season, the newsletter says. Special Meeting The Potato Board proposes a special meeting to discuss the present contract system and the application of the levy scheme, the newsletter says. From time to time there have been questions raised by growers as to why only certain classes of potatoes should be subject to the levy and eligible for comnensataion from the fund accumulated from levies. Some potatoes are levied but do not qualify for compensation in the event of a surplus.

“The present levy scheme, broadly speaking, applies only to main crop table potatoes and there have been suggestions that the levy should be at a reduced rate but payable on all potatoes produced in New Zealand.” the newsletter says. The board has received a report from a sub-comm’ttee of •he Waimairi Potato Growers' Association which has been endorsed by the Central Ward Committee.

The report suggests that sound potatoes which do not qualify as number one grade because of scab or which are mis-shapen should be classified as "commercial” grade and be eligible for surplus '•ompensation at a rate £3 below the payment a ton for number one grade.

“If at harvest time a grower 'ound that his crop was affected by scab or the potatoes were mis-shapen and that the maiority of the crop was so affected, he should be able to call on a subcofnmittee of the local grower association which would report to the officers of the board and request that an assessment of the crop be made ... He would be recommended by the grower committee to store the potatoes in an approved manner on his property pending further information on the possibility of them

I being required for the market," s the report says. i At the usual time of digging • it is not always possible to forel cast the supply position for the i season. If prices in excess of the ) assessment value were offering - the grower would be free to sell . but if the market showed no , improvement the grower would , not have to dispose of the I affected potatoes • at reduced prices, thus affecting the market i ruling for number one grade. ’ “It would get rid of the ’ anomaly of the best potatoes being held for assessment and the inferior grades being forced ’ on the market.” the report says. ? The report also considered that i the proposed “commercial" grade - should comprise potatoes of table r size which were completely sound with no other defect than

scab or bad shape. Other defects, such as bruises, machine-damage, green, wet or dry rots, insect damage, fleck or hollow heart would not be allowed.