TO BE COUNTERED?

Grey River Argus, 11 March 1939, Page 7

TO BE COUNTERED?

N.Z. POTATOES

1,000 TONS FOR AUSTRALIA. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] CANBERRA, March 9. Mr. Lyons, the Prime Minister, announced that the Government has I decided to permit the importation of 250 tons of potatoes weekly from New I Zealand, for the next four weeks. He added that it was not proposed to I permit unlimited importations, but so to regulate the entry that Australian growers would receive adequate protection. He said that the Government had always been ready to protect the Australian potato-grower, who at times encountered serious difficulties, but, in justice to the consumers, it must be agreed that the present acute shortage should be relieved. WELLINGTON, March 10. Mr. Nash stated, to-day, that the Government had received from Australia advice agreeing to import up to 250 tons of potatoes per week, and arrangements were now being made to comply with several conditions suggested by the Australian Government.

A Counter Stroke ? TASMANIA WILL GLUT SYDNEY MARKET. (Received March 10, 10.45 p.m.). SYDNEY, March 10. Coinciding with the Federal Government’s decision to admit one thousand tons of New Zealand potatoes into Australia, there comes the 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 gurnie for shipment, and a heavy drop in prices is expected when these reach the Sydney market next week.

PROFITEERING AT SYDNEY. NOW EVIDENT. SYDNEY, March 10. Owing to a marked disparity between the price that is paid for potatoes by the 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.