POTATO SUPPLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 10 March 1943, Page 2

POTATO SUPPLIES

HEAVY STOCKS IN AUCKLAND Auckland, Mar. S There are heavy stocks of potatoes ir Auckland at present, the quantity ir store being about 6000 sacks. A portior of this accumulation will have to br regraded for a second time before be ing made available for consumption. A produce merchant said the chief reason for the position, apart from the smaller public demand through greatly intensified home growing, was the absurdly low standard that had been, fixed originally, for first grade. This rule as to size provided that potatoes could be classed as first grade if not more than 15 of a sample of 100 pota toes could be passed through an aper ture liin square. This order was gazetted in November last year, but at the end of January the measure was into liin square. Even that standard, the merchant said, was too low.

The grower had included in his market consignments potatoes which in former times were regarded merely as pig feed. As soon as the well-grown Rangitikei crop was available, it was seized upon by retailers, and the local product was neglected. Next month. South Island crops would be available and the supply of these would be regulated. For March to July supplies, grow ers will receive £lO 10s a ton, and the maximum retail price for the perioc will be 2d per lb.—P.A.