POTATO GROWERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 146, 23 June 1938, Page 7

POTATO GROWERS

MARKETING PROBLEMS

"REASON TO FEEL HOPEFUL"

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. Potato growers had reason to feel hopeful that the problem of marketing their produce would be settled satisfactorily, said Mr. W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, discussing a remit before the monthly meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury branch of the union. The re>it, which was forwarded by the Raiapoi branch, requested "That the provincial executive be asked to call a conference to consider the position regarding the exportation of potatoes." Mr. Mulholland said the subject had been concerning the Farmers' Union for some time and the union had actually approached the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) in the hope that he might be able to do something about it. He understood that the Minister had been engaged on the problem when the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) had interested himself in it. "I ,don't-know whether Mr. Nash's interference will strengthen his prestige, either in Cabinet or among the public," said Mr. Mulholland, "but I certainly think that it has put the potato growers in a strong position, as the Minister of Marketing will now have to do something to justify his interest in their problem. The Farmers' Union has been interested in potato growers' difficulties for some months, and had gone some distance with the Minister of Agriculture in finding a solution for those difficulties. In view of what has now arisen, potato growers would be advised to act quickly. A conference should certainly be called to discuss the exportation of potatoes as soon as possible." • It was decided to refer the question to the agricultural committee for further consideration.