N.Z. POTATOES

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1935, Page 3

N.Z. POTATOES

ADMISSION TO AUSTRALIA. DARGAVILLE January 10. The plan for admitting small consignments of New Zealand potatoes to tne Australian market, outlined by the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr .1. A. Lyons) at Hobart on Tuesday, was referred to the Rt. Hon >l. G. Coates (Minister for Customs) at bis borne at Dargaville last night. Mr Coates had not seen newspaper reports of Mr Lyon’s speech ; but when the proposals were outlined to him be expressed his pleasure tint Mr Lyons was doing bis best to prepare the ground for some suitable arrangement in the potato trade. Mr Coates had known that the Australian Prime Minister was going to try to reach some agreement which would be mutually satisfactory to the Commonwealth and the Dominion, and it now appeared that he was paving the way for such a'n agreement. The potato question was a very ticklish one in Australia, and Mr Lyons was pluekly to tackle it, particularly in his own (doctorate.

Mr Coates would not say that the lifting of the potato embargo would be answered by New Zealand with the. free importation of citrus fruits. There was, be said, much more than potatoes to be discussed. Ho added, however, that the New Zealand Government would be very pleased to know that Mr Lyons was taking a hand in clearing difficulties away.