POTATO SUPPLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 31 December 1941, Page 7

POTATO SUPPLIES

DIFFICULT POSITION NO* IMMEDIATE RELIEF Wellington. Dec., 30. “It is expected that the market will ; continue to be comparatively short of I potatoes until the new main crop commences to become available in February. but in the meantime every effort is being made to obtain increased supplies,” stated the Minister of Marketing (Mr Barclay) to-day. The Minister said the shortage had been anticipated by the Internal Marketing Division, and every possible effort had been made to obtain supplies from Australia. “However,” continued the Minister, "the position in Australia is now much the same as it is in New Zealand, supplies of old potatoes being practically exhausted and the new crop in short supply, with very few lines sufficiently mature to stand shipment to New Zealand. The quality of the old season's Australian potatoes, which were available in November, while quite satisfactory for prompt use, was not such as to warrant importation and holding to meet a shortage at the present time. The Australian market has also been materially affected by increased requirements for the Army supplies, and this has accentuated the shortage in the transitionary period between the old and new crops. "Government requirements in New Zealand are now very considerable, and substantial relief to the local markets has been given by the importation from Australia during the last thiee months, of 25.000 sacks of potatoes, which would otherwise have had : to be obtained locally and which would have greatly accentuated the 1 shortage that has existed.” —P.A.