POTATO SHORTAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1942, Page 6

POTATO SHORTAGE

AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIES

MORE PURCHASES

MADE

To assist m relieving' the shortage of locally-grown potatoes in • • the Dominion, the Internal Marketing Division has purchased more .; Australian potatoes, approximately, 800 tons of which are -expected to be available.during the present month and early' in ' February.' Ah - announcement -to this • effect was ■ made last night by the Minister of Marketing (Mr, Barclay). Mr. Barclay said that, the pfesent shortage "was the result of a'combina- . tion of several adverse factors, but ■ every endeavour had been- made by: the. Internal "Marketing Division . to minimise the seriousness of the problem,within the Dominion. " The Minister said that ; as .far back as September, of. last year the Internal Marketing, Division arranged for ' the importation '. of potatoes, from Australia. 'At' that time the. action of the -.Department ■ was severely criticised in Parliament and throughout the country, generally,, but the course of events, had,. completely justified the action. • . . .' ' , . . "' _' When the initial importations were made, continued the Minister, it was the policy of the Government to keep a close check on the,local- supply position from week to week, and , only minimum importations were made in order "to cover ; primarily the. urgent needs of the armed forces, However, adverse weather and decreased plantings both in New Zealand and Australia affected early crops and the Department had beeri faced 'with increasing • difficulties/ in 'securing adequate supplies for the essential' requirements of the military authorities, quite apart from the necessity of supplementing civilian supplies also. .... . "Taking all these factors into account," said Mr. Barclay, "I can nevertheless give a: definite assurance that the Department .has imported: during the : past three months ■ all 'necessary supplies of potatoes which were available from Australia of a .quality, suitable for export to New Zealand. It was originally anticipated that a substantial proportion of the imported i supplies would be available for the civilian population, but the demands of the armed forces have increased substantially. , ..■-■■-' AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIES. "In addition to the "importations already made, further purchases have been effected in Australia to the extent of. approximately 800 tons, and these supplies should become available during the present month and early in February. The Internal ' Marketing Division will continue its endeavours to secure all the supplies necessary to meet the requirements of the Dominion, while the present shortage continues, though from time to time' teriiporary shortages will inevitably occur. "There is '• no substantial source in New Zealand from which supplies can be drawn. The Pukekohe crops have been exhausted,.and the only remaining districts with any early potatoes available have barely sufficient to meet requirements in their immediate vicinity. This position is likely to continue till the main Manawatu and Rangitikei. crop, is ready, from about the middle of February onward. SOUTH ISLAND CROP. ''The North-Island main crop should last till the South Island main crop is ready from the latter half of April onwards. \ "One final factor which should assist the general supply position within the Dominion is, the heavy increased domestic plantings, which should enable a large number of householders to supply their own needs for a considerable period,* and perhaps assist their neighbours and friends." : ;; v