THE POTATO MARKET

Evening Star, Issue 18281, 22 May 1923, Page 2

THE POTATO MARKET

HO FEAR OF FAMINE.

SUPPLIES PROM AMERICA

Mr W. 11. Prentis, president of the Auckland Grain, Seed, and Produce 'Merchants’ Association, was seen by a ‘ Star ’ reporter regarding tho position of the potato market in Hew Zealand in consequence of the floods in, tho south. He ridiculed the idea that tho price of potatoes would go to 50s por bag. “It seems to me,” said Mr Prentis, “that there has been a lot of exaggeration regarding the difficulty in supplying this market with potatoes. No doubt the floods did a great deal of damage, but the position is not so serious as it is being made out. People who hold stocks of potatoes in tho south will not object to prices being boomed, but as to talking about famine prices for potatoes, I may say we are prepared to-day to sell for prompt delivery at £ll to £l2 per ton. It is true that Ibis market is short supplied at tho moment, but further shipments are ’ coming forward. There can be no danger of a potato famine, because supplies can be obtained from America and landed hero at £l2 por ton. While that can be done the market here cannot advance much. There is a temporary shortage, but really it is nothing to worry about. If there have been heavy losses in the south, it must be remembered that ample potatoes can bo bought from outside New Zealand.’*

Inquiries made of other merchants confirmed tho above statement. One stated that he had 1,400 tons of potatoes offered from the south at £7 15s to £8 5s per ton. f.o.b, Lyttelton. At another firm it was stated': “Wo have a wire from the south offering to book from now to the end of the season at £8 10s per ton for best whites. That is a very different thing to the prophecy that the price would bo 30s per bag.” It- was pointed out that any big advance in price always reduced the consumption of any article, but the fact tlpit potatoes are offered from now on to the end of the season at £8 10s per ton would give the impression that the damage in the south by the floods has not been so serious as was at first stated. In places where the water soon drained off the digging of potatoes is reported to be proceeding apace so as to prevent danger of rotting, and the chances are that the price of potatoes may drop below the present quotation of* £ll to £l2 per ton.