POTATO EXPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 60, 8 September 1938, Page 10

POTATO EXPORT

SHIPMENT ARRANGED

TO SOUTH AMERICA

In an interview today, the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) announced that the Government had now made arrangements for the export of a further quantity of potatoes to South America. « "The Director of Internal Marketing is at present in the South Island," said the Minister, "making the necessary contacts to arrange for shipment, and it is expected that details will be completed within two or three days. "The Government has agreed to offer to growers £3 per ton, sacks "in, on trucks, country stations, for Red Dakota potatoes of exportable quality and it is also hoped that some arrangements will later be made for the shifting of a quantity Of whites. "It will be remembered," continued Mr. Nash, "that when the Government previously offered* to assist growers by way of export, some difficulty was experienced in obtaining supplies, and it is hoped that on this occasion growers will realise the urgent necessity for clearing some of the surplus crop, and will co-operate with the Government in making supplies of exportable potatoes readily available. "Every ton of potatoes exported from New Zealand must assist the local market for all grades and the Government has made arrangements to ship sufficient quantities to ensure that the local market will be stabilised at a figure equitable to £3 per ton for Red Dakotas. "The price offered to growers by the Government represents a substantial increase on present-day prices," said the Minister, "and 5 must result in a very welcome firming of market values."