POTATO PRICES

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1942, Page 6

POTATO PRICES

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, July 21. The prices to potato growers for potatoes produced in the 1942-43 season were referred to to-day by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Barclay), when commenting on the urgent need for the growing of tne maximum acreage possible in the coming season in order that civilian requirements and ever-increasing army requirements might be fulfilled with locally-produced material. “I fully realise,” the Minister said, “that growers will require to receive some incentive before they will be prepared to plant every available potato, and I know that no greater incentive can be given than to assure producers at this early date of the prices which they will receive for the potatoes they grow. With the prices before them, I feel that there is no need for further appeals to farmers to- plant out an area of 25,000 acres, which the Government considers is the area required to give an adequate safeguard to meet all potato demands next season.” Mr Barclay then said that the basis of the prices to growers which he would recommend to the Price Tribunal for incorporation in an official price order was as follows: —

(For all varieties of immature potatoes, i.e., those easily skinned, delivery before February 28, 1943: all prices are for delivery on trucks, grower’s station, sacks included.) (a) Delivery before October 1, 1942: price left free. (b) Delivery between October 1 and October 15, 1942: price to range between £3O and £35 a ton. (c) Delivery between October 16 and October 31, 1942: price to range between £25 and £3O a ton. (d) Delivery between November 1 and November 15, 1942: price to range between £2O and £25 a ton. (e) Delivery between November 16 and November 30, 1942: price to range between £l5 and £2O a ton.

(f) Delivery December, 1942: price to range between £l4 and £lB a ton.

(g) Delivery January or February, 1943: price to range between £l2 and £l4 a ton.

PRICE FOR MAIN CROP

(a) For all potatoes (other than Suttons and King Edward varieties) delivered on board, South Island ports, on or after March 1, 1943 (sacks included). delivery March, 1943. £8 a ton; delivery April, 1943, £7/15/- a ton; for deliveries subsequent to June. 1943, periodic increments to be given which will bring the November, 1943, prices to £ll a ton. (b) Foi' all potatoes of the Suttons and King Edward varieties: a premium to be given of 10/- a ton over the above prices. (c) For North Island-grown potatoes delivered on trucks, North Island stations, on or after March 1, 1943: the prices outlined above will apply converted to North Island parity, while the exact amount which will require to be added to achieve this result has not yet been calculated, it will not be less than £2 a ton. In other words, North Island growers would receive a minimum of £2 a ton more than the prices shown for South Island main crop potatoes. The Minister went on to state that while the above prices would be very remunerative to those growers who disposed of the whole of their crops, he realised that farmers would be concerned as to the disposal of any surplus, should foi' reasons of extremely high yield or reduced demand the total production be not absorbed into commercial channels. “I have therefore approved,” he added, “for a scheme to be drafted whereby growers will receive a payment of £ 7 1 15/- a ton for any surplus crop occurring as a result of the Government appeal for increased potatoes. This will gerve as a guarantee against financial loss. In all cases, arrangements have also been made for the' supply to farmers of adequate labour for potato growing. Thus, there have been removed three of the greatest obstacles against a considerable increase in the production of this staple and essential item in our national diet.”