CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

FEW NORTH ISLAND ORDERS. Per Press Associalicn. CHRISTCHURCH, June 14. Business in the grain and produce markets continues to be quiet, with no alterations in prices. Interest in potatoes quickened after the announcement that Australia would bo iaking 5000 tons from the Dominion, but -it has since lapsed somewhat in the absence of a confirmatory statement from the New Zealand Government. Sellers increased their quo tation, but there did not' appear to bo any material response and values remain about : tho same, £2 10s to £2 15s on trucks. Actually, it appears from crop reports that the export of 5000 tons of potatoes this season would make litllo difference to the market values. In the opinion of many merchants, the Dominion will have more like 20,000 tons- of potatoes to spare and if an export market for a largo quantity is found, prospects for the growers will not be very encouraging. Actual buying orders from the North Island are very few, most of the shipments being consignments, and since there are only about three months loft of the period ill' which potatoes are normally shipped away, there would seem to bo no possibility of a large part of the crop finding an outlet there. Chances of a market in South America have been discussed, but most merchants are inclined to rule;, this out because of high freights and other difficulties. It has also been suggested that the Government might make an arrangement to supply potatoes to Australia in return for wheat, but, according to a statement made by, the Minister of Marketing, nothing has been done about this. It would seem that the. only chance of clearing the potato crop would bo the unconditional removal of the Australian embargo and, since the embargo appears to be purely and simply political, the chances of its removal are at the very best not bright a.t present. '■