FORCED DIGGING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 7 December 1946, Page 10

FORCED DIGGING

POTATO SHORTAGE

CEILING STRANGLE

IMPROVEMENT SOUGHT “Gisborne growers have just got into the industry and they are keen to secure the best seed and the best land to produce the crops, and it is the short-sighted policy of the Government that will be strangling us out of business altogether. We are not being penalised, but sickened of the business, and if we cannot get a reasonable price the ground will not be used for the valuable potato industry.”

These remarks were made by a representative of Gisborne growers of early potatoes when asked to comment on the reasons, other than climatic conditions, for the acute shortage of potatoes in other parts of New Zealand, and the huge demand that had built up for the produce of this district. He said Gisborne growers were in favour of a higher ceiling being demanded in other areas. Half of Gisborne’s 650 acres of early potatoes, running about a month late this year because of the unfavourable weather, have been dug and it is expected that there will be few remaining in the ground by the end of the year. “The effect of the price schedule governing the returns to the potato growers in many cases has forced the growers to dig their crops before they are ready, thus enabling them to take advantage of the higher prices ruling. As many as possible were dug this week to catch the £l6 per ton rate, the £l4 per ton rate becoming effective as from to-morrow,” the growers’ representative continued. » “The price schedule is as follows, the value shown being the maximum rate per ton for first-grade potatoes: June 1September 14, £42 10s; September 15-28, £3B; September 29-October 12, £34; October 13-26, £3O; October 27November 9, £26; November 10-23, £22; November 24-December 7, £l6; December 8-31, £l4; January 1-31, £l2; February 1-28, £ll. “It is the short-sighted policy of the Government that has allowed this position to arise. The growers took as many of their potatoes up as possible before the price dropped below £22,

and since then they have been trying to get in on the £l6 schedule. After that they will just have to take what is left.

“If there is a shortage for Christmas in Gisborne it is not the fault of the growers, as we cannot be expected to do otherwise than study our finances. The matter should be taken up-with the Minister concerned to ensure that there will be no repetition next year,” he continued.

It was explained that even in Gisborne, where the yield per acre was generally high, it did not pay the grower to sell on the £l6 rate. Even if the grower delayed digging, the increase in the weight did not compensate him for the loss on the ceiling. Other charges also mounted. More bags were required and more labour, and labour at 3s per hour was a costly item. . , ... “The price drop is too rapid and it does not pay the majority of growers if they have to dig by the third week in November to secure £22. It should be left at £22 per ton, and then there is'not much in it,” he said, adding that the purpose of the ceiling was to prevent trafficking in the commodity. This district is producing 3000 tons of potatoes or more and that figure would be increased if the authorities used their discretion and assist the growers instead of discouraging them. It has been proved beyond doubt that this is the early potato-growing district in New Zealand, he concluded..

According to the Minister of Marketing, Mr. B. Roberts, the unseasonable weather is mainly responsible for the shortage of potatoes, states the Wellington Post. The season for old potatoes, he stated the other day, was practically finished, and new potatoes were likely to be in comparatively short supply during the next four or five weeks. Growers in the Auckland district throw another light on the situation. They state that under the present system of ceiling prices for vegetables very' few growers are prepared to plant crops of potatoes unless they can obtain very heavy yields. Production costs have increased, while the' ceiling prices have remained stable. Bad weather has increased growing problems and growers feel that some recognition of this fact should be made m the ceilings. The cost of growing potatoes. they state, is more than £BO an acre. Seed potatoes cost about £3O a ton, manures are almost unobtainable, add, bags cost 8d each. Labour costs have increased. by 6d an hour 1942, when the ceilings were stabilised. During October and November, tne time of heaviest diggings in Pukekone, crops only averaged from one and a half to three tons to the acre. The ceiling price in early October was wi a ton and the present price is £l6 a ton. Nbxt week the price will decrease to £l4 a ton. At £34 a ton a 22-ton crop would just about pay expenses. At next week’s price six tons to tne acre would have to be grown to pay expenses. It is estimated that 9a per cent of the Pukekohe growers have loot money

Little Incentive

Most growers prefer to grow sudi crops as cauliflowers or turnips, wrnc are not controlled, rather than grow vital crops of potatoes for which tney receive no encouragement. here is little incentive to attempt to grow ea > crops, and thus wholesalers and retai - ers have had insufficient supplies J their trade and the public have been the sufferers. ~ . With a good crop it is Possible for growers to come out on the right sia under the ceiling price, but there 1 no guarantee of a payable ieturn should supplies be heavy and thus force down the market price ceiling. They feel this is a veiy one sided position, as they are forced stand the loss in the event of Jow P in the case of gluts, yet if ‘ nc i a good season prices are kept down there is no chance to recuperate • A report from Canterbury states that in an attempt to aheviat shortage growers in that d * s j r ’ ct tatoes been resorting rejectand seedi p The fact remains that the gi ... , jority of Wellington homes are rme > to be potatoless for some krn e - .. restaurants seem to no plight. In several establishm t potatoes are being, served w , meals, and the proprietors see n ~J? n of the shortage being remedied, a matter of days at least.