POTATO STOCKS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 141, 11 March 1943, Page 4

POTATO STOCKS

Heavy In Auckland

Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND. March 10.

There are heavy stocks of potatoes in Auckland at present, the quantity in store being about 6000 sacks. A portion of 'this accumulation will have to be regraded for a second time before being made available for consumption. A produce merchant said tlie chief reason for the position, apart from the smaller public demand through greatly intensified home growing, was the absurdly low standard that had been fixed originally for first grade. This rule as to size provided that potatoes could he classed as first grade if not more than 15 of a sample of 100 potatoes could be passed through an aperture IJin. square. This order was gazetted in November last year, but at the end of January tlie measure was increased to Ijin. square. Even that standard, the merchant said, was too low.

The grower had included in his market consignments potatoes which in former times were regarded merely as pig feed. As soon as the well-grown Rangitikei crop was available, it was seized on by retailers, and the local product was neglected. Next month, South Island crops would be available, and the supply of these would be regulated. For March to July supplies, growers will receive £lO/10/- a ton, and the maximum retail price for the period will be 2d. per lb-