Australian Pioneers’ View Of Potato Imports

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30542, 10 September 1964, Page 15

Australian Pioneers’ View Of Potato Imports

Australian potato growers have been concerned lest imports of New Zealand potatoes should depress their markets and prevent them from recouping some of their eariier losses, according to an article in the “Victoria Potato Grower News,’’ reprinted in the latest newsletter issued by the New Zealand Potato Board. The article in the “Victoria Potato Grower News” of July 17 says: “There will be 1500 tons of New Zealand potatoes brought to Australia over a period of five weeks for processing only. “Both Mr John McEwen (acting-Prime Minister and Minister of Trade) and Mr Harrie W. Wade (actingMinister of Primary Industry) have been insistent that the admission will not dislocate present prices in Australia. “Growers’ representatives have been working on this for the last three weeks and have found that the Minister of Primary Industry has a good understanding of the position

and has communicated this to the other relevant departments, principally Customs and Excise, which has the say.

“Watching the price rise on the Sydney market in June, Potato Growers’ Association officers, like all others, knew that an application must come from somewhere to import potatoes when it reached a level where someone could make a profit by importing. “So the association was ready when news reached it ‘on the grapevine’ on June 30 that Customs and Excise had called for information about Australian supplies. The association had experience of the 1961 imports, so the State president (Mr Robert Knox) immediately ordered this telegram to go to the Minister of Primary Industry in Canberra: ‘Entry of New Zealand potatoes acceptable only under conditions of entry, 1961. Must maintain stability of Australian markets in view of local 1963 prices in order to maintain Australian potato industry. . . .’ “While that was on the wire the secretary (Mr D. Lindsay) was getting in touch with Mr J. Strickland, chairman of the Victorian Potato Growers’ Council, and Mr Knox was telephoning Mr Stan Owen, State president of the Potato section of the A.P.P.U. Previous Agreement “It was subsequently pointed out to the department that in 1961 an agreement was reached with the Department of Primary Industry, which permitted under quarantine regulations (controlled by the Tasmanian Potato Marketing Board) a controlled supply of shipments of New Zealand potatoes, which control maintained the Sydney market price at £6O a ton Sydney. This agreement had proved most satisfactory. “A most important point made was that we consider it unfair in a year in which

we are recouping some of our losses that there should be allowed any trade which will depress local market conditions and prevent a fair average price being received. “It was also pointed out to the department that in spite of the recent price there is as yet no evidence of a shortage of potatoes in Australia. The Tasmanian Government marketing office has forecast ‘moderate’ supplies for the balance of the season.

“The pertinent paragraph of the reply received this week from the acting Minister of Primary Industry (Mr Wade) is this: ‘Any decision to allow such imports rests with my colleague, the Minister of Customs and Excise. However, you are assured of my own interest in this matter and that imports would only be permitted under strict quarantine control and in such a manner as to ensure that Australian potato growers are not adversely affected’.” Lesser Tonnage

The newsletter says that it it now seems that because of prices easing in Australia a much lower tonnage than 1500 will be exported. “The Department of Industries and Commerce made strenuous efforts to arrange Australian approval of this limited importation (1500 tons), while much time and money were spent by New Zealand merchants in sending over potato samples to be tested for their processing qualities. As the potatoes will only be allowed into Australia for processing and would have to be either dumped or returned if found to be unsuitable, there is a considerable financial risk involved which does not make it easy to conclude business.”