POTATOES AND CEREALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18664, 21 March 1924, Page 7

POTATOES AND CEREALS.

SUPPLIES FROM AUSTRALIA.

(EFFECT ON LOCAL MARKET.

The partial failure of potato and grain crops in Hie South has led Auckland merchants to look further afield to obtain full supplies of the commodities mentioned. Australian chaff ha s been selling in Auckland for some time and a fairly large shipment of potatoes from the Commonwealth is due to arrive by the Katoa at the end of this week. The importations from Australia have resulted in South Island growers protesting to the Government and requesting that an embargo be placed on potatoes from over-

Discussing the position yesterday an Auckland produce merchant said local dealers were compelled to go outside New Zealand for grain and potatoes. Inquiries in the South for potatoes some time ago were met with growers' quotations up to £9 a ton. Allowing about £1 15s a ton for the cost of landing in Auckland in wholesale lines, it was apparent that potatoes from the South would be at a prohibitive price before they could reach the consumer. It was significant, added the speaker, that news of impending arrival of supplies from Australia had caused the Southern market to ease considerably. > In regard to chaff, the speaker said that imports, from Australia had steadied the market, otherwise prices in the South would have been much higher than they were at present. Australian chaff was selling at 9s 6d to 10s 6d a sack, compared with lis 6d to ~ 12s for Southern grown. Owing to the smaller yields in all classes of crops in the South this season, it would be necessary to import all classes of grain, including wheat and oats