RUSH OF POTATOES

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1939, Page 10

RUSH OF POTATOES

FROM TASMANIA TO SYDNEY. POLITICIANS’ ALLEGATIONS SYDNEY, March 13. Shipments of potatoes from Tasmania to the mainland States last week, amounted to 50[000 sacks, ah all-time record. The “Herald’s” Burnie correspondent says that, while one reason for the record deliveries was the desire of farmers to market their supplies before the New Zealand potatoes were admitted, there has been a remark-ab-e change in crop prospects, resulting from rain in the past month. Several traders expressed the view that the relaxation of the embargo on New Zealand potatoes has come too late, and that Australia now has sufficient supplies. SYDNEY, March 13. The “Daily News” publishes comments by Mr R. B. Walker, M.L.A., and Sir Frederick Stewart, M.P. Mr Walker says that Tasmanian growers have been hiding millions of potatoes in underground pits, to keep the Sydney prices famine-high. Now they have flooded the market, to choke New Zealand growers out. Sir Frederick Stewart says: There is something sinister about this potato glut in Sydney. If this business angers the New Zealand Government, it will do our citrus men a lot of harm.