POTATO SUPPLIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1939, Page 7

POTATO SUPPLIES

GLUT IN TASMANIA [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] CANBERRA, March 10. Coinciding with the Federal Government’s decision partially to lift the embargo on New Zealand potatoes, comes news of the worst glut of potatoes that north-western Tasmania has known for many years. A record consignment of potatoes is being collected at Bernie for shipment, and a heavy drop in prices is expected when these reach the Sydney market next week. Because of the marked disparity between the price that is paid for potatoes by shops and the price paid by the public, the Director of the State Marketing Bureau has ordered a special investigation into the retail price of potatoes. FOUR WEEKS AS TEST PERIOD. (Received March 11, 8 a.m.) CANBERRA, March 10. Mr. Lyons, to-night, deprecated any attempt to associate the New Zealand potato question with the export of oranges from Australia to New Zealand. He added that the Government’s decision to allow restricted importation of New Zealand potatoes was not necessarily confined to the four weeks mentioned in the official announcement. Mr. Lyons emphasised that the position would be reviewed from time to time, strictly in the light of Australian conditions and requirements, and that the interests of Australian growers would always be considered. It is felt in official circles that the present limited import will provide a valuable test period, from which a more permanent understanding may be derived.

N.Z. MERCHANTS DISAPPOINTED DUNEDIN, March 10. Neither growers nor merchants have much cause for jubilation at the decision of the Australian Federal Government to permit the importation o a limited quantity of New Zealand potatoes into Australia, according to statements made by a representative of the trade. The limitation of imports to 250 tons a week is regarded as hopelessly inadequate from the point of view of merchants on both sides of the Tasman. “Two hundred and fifty tons will be like a drop in the ocean to the Australian market,” said one merchant, “and it will be of practically no material benefit to the New Zealand market. It is doubtful whether such a slight addition to the stocks in Australia, will have any effect on the exorbitant rates ruling for potatoes in the Commonwealth, and the withdrawal of such quantities cannot be expected to do much to improve the price of potatoes in this country.” Continuing, he said that the potato market in New Zealand had lately been buoyed up by anticipations of a new outlet for local stocks, but merchants would now be far from anxious to operate, and it was probable that there would be a weakening in the market from its present level of about £8 to £9 a ton. Current rates for potatoes on Australian markets range from £l7 to £22/10/- a. ton.