EXPORT POTATOES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 18

EXPORT POTATOES

Market in Australia For New Zealand MINISTER HOPEFUL Disease Problem No Longer a Factor An optimistic view of the possible re-entry of New Zealand to the Australian potato market was taken by the Minister of Agriculture, Hou. Lee Martin, when commenting yesterday in an interview on the statements made by the Tasmanian Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. R. Cosgrove. In Christchurch Mr. Cosgrove stated that there was every possibility of the removal by Australia of the embargo on New Zealand potatoes. “All things considered I feel that now that the disease problem has been cleared up ana now that the main potato growing State is realising that New Zealand importations are unlikely to prove in any real way detrimental to their producers, the possibilities of New Zealand being again an exporter to Australia are distinctly hopeful,” Mr. Lee Martin said. “Au outlet for periods when there are surplus supplies here will be very welcome to the trade. “Probably the most encouraging feature of the remarks made by Mr. Cosgrove in Christchurch about the probability of Australia removipg the embargo against New ZealamPpotatoes is that they have been made by the Minister of Agriculture of Tasmania, the State which is the main exporter of potatoes to Sydney,” Mr. Lee Martin added. “With the embargo removed Sydney would become the main port to which New Zealand potatoes would be shipped and this fact has in the past caused an outcry from Tasmania whenever such action has been suggested. It is obvious that Tasmanian growers are realising that entry of New Zealand potatoes into Australian ports would not be prejudicial to their industry as was thought previously. They are in point of fact correct in this idea, as a moderate duty and shipping costs represent amply sufficient protection when Australian prices are what one may term normal. “When Australian prices are abnormally high,” Mr. Lee Martin added, “New Zealand shipments, if available, ■would merely steady the market,'and wide fluctuations in price in the main potato markets of Australia are not of any real benefit to the industry, as they cause a tendency to a general lower consumption of potatoes rather than an increase.” The Minister explained that when the embargo was originally instituted the Australian authorities were concerned about what they considered as the danger of the introduction of a disease known as powdery scab. At that time the disease was thought to be unknown in Australia and its introduction was viewed with genuine alarm. The fact, however, that the disease had been reported in Australia from time fo time with apparently very little damage being occasioned, and particularly the added fact that in New Zealand, where the so-called disease is moderately regular, the yield of marketable potatoes is steadily increasing, had made the Australian grower realise that powdery scab did not represent a real menace. Mr. Lee Martin added that such a viewpoint had been fully substantiated at the meeting of Australian plant pathologists held last year, a meeting that had been specially called to consider the disease aspect from all points of view. ,