DRASTIC CUTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20861, 13 August 1942, Page 2

DRASTIC CUTS

POTATO CONSUMPTION SUPPLIES INADEQUATE SERVICES AND CIVILIANS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. A survey of potato stocks throughout the Dominion has revealed that the supply is wholly inadequate to meet the demands of the armed forces and the civil population during the next three months, and, accordingly, drastic measures to ; curtail the consumption are necessary. In making this announcement the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said the present position had developed partly as a result of the comparative failure of the North Island crops in the early part of the year in the Rangitikei and west coast districts. This had necessitated drawing on the South Island crop some six weeks to two months earlier than usual. On top of this the requirements of the armed forces had become greater than anticipated. When this became apparent, efforts were made to purchase potatoes from various other countries, but the conditions everywhere Were found to be similar to those in New Zealand. Australia, for instance, had already approached New Zealand with a view to obtaining supplies from this Dominion to overcome the complete shortage of supplies in the Commonwealth. The Minister said he could assure the public that no effort would be spared to procure supplies from overseas, hut, unfortunately, even if a source of supply could be found, the Government could not, for obvious reasons, take such quantities into its calculations until the shipments actually had been landed in New Zealand. The only course, therefore, open to meet the situation was to apportion our available supplies as equitably as possible between the armed forces and such essential services as public and private hospitals, old people.’s homes,, etc. Under this arrangement,the ration to the armed forces would have to be cut very drastically, as it was only by that means, that the limited supplies could be made available to the civilian services mentioned. With a view .to avoiding a recurrence of the present position next year, the Government is planning for increased production in 1943, and this had necessitated a diversion of a substantial quantity of table potatoes to seed purposes, further accentuating the problem. The Minister urged the public to utilise any table potatoes for home garden crops, and also to economise by cooking potatoes “in their jackets.” - - ■■