POTATO GROWING

Grey River Argus, 21 November 1941, Page 2

POTATO GROWING

In Greymouth Reserves CR. HERRING REPRIMANDS COUNCIL. W Stating that hu« New Zealand troops in Egypt Lea naa no potatoes to eat for three months as a result of the shortage in the Dominion, the Deputy Mayor, Cr. H. Herring, at last evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, pointed out the Council’s folly in not supporting his proposals to plant vegetables, particularly potatoes, in reserves within the Greymouth Borough. "At the last meeting of the Council,” he stated, “my motion, that the Council plant vegetables in borough reserves, received no support.” Now we find that there is a big shortage of vegetables in the Dominion, and the position is going to be aggravated. There ,is a shortage of 5,000 tons of potatoes.” Cr. C. Neville: “25,000 tons.”

“The experts say 5,000 tons,” continued Cr. Herring, who went on to say that had vegetables been planted by public bodies, there would have been no shortage. “Somebody should do something to help the Government in its apathy," he went on. “Take potatoes at 4s 9d a quarter at present. They are in the main diet of everybody and the countrv is thousands of tons short. What ‘are people, especially pensioners, going to do next year, or at present for that matter, with increased costs? The Government has lost sight of the fact that with a full stomach the people are content. Everyone should do something. Of course it is useless for me to attempt to do anything in this borough. It is not a matter to be treated jocularly. Cr. Neville (Chairman of the Reserves’ Committee), said that if there were a chance of vegetables being planted on an economic basis, the Council would take it on. However, in Invercargill, that which a much better situation for growing vegetables could not be , found, a scheme had been tried two years ago anfl Cr. Herring should ask them how they got on. Growing was a specialist’s job. There was good ground for growing potatoes on -tne West Coast, and if the Council were prepared to employ a man to do tne job properly, he would support the project. But if the Council was going to employ casual la P o ,y r £y s and ask them to put in "spuds, the whole thing would be a farce. If trained men were secured, he would be prepared to assist. He did not think that all vegetables could be grown, but agreed that potatoes could be planted successfully. There was plenty of good land available. It was useless to say that something should be done without suggesting what* Cr. Herring said that he had done nothing useless. There were hundreds of men growing potatoes on the West Coast. A special man was not necessary. The people did not realise that there was a war on, or that the men in Egypt had been without a potato for three months. Vegetables should be planted before flowers. Cr. F. F. Boustridge: There is no motion before the meeting. The matter was argued out at the last meeting. Cr. Herring: I am just answering Cr. Neville. Cr. Boustridge: You have been answering him for the past quarter of an hour. We don’t want to be here until midnight. There is no motion so the discussion should be closed. Cr. J. Saunders said that so many people had been growing potatoes that the regular large growers, not estimating correctly, shut down in their plantings. This shortage was caused by too many people grow 1 - ing potatoes. Cr. Herring: That does not say much for the Agriculture Department, who are supposed to keep their finger on the pulse of the industry. ' Cr. Boustridge: I am opposed to any municipal enterprise in growing vegetables. The Council should encourage the citizens to grow them. Cr. P. Blanchfield said that he felt the same way. The Council did not want to become a laughing stock. Raising vegetables would

make ia look ludicrous. Cr. Herring: Everyone is entitled to his opinion. The Council had an offer of ground and did not take advantage of it—and look at the position.”