EMBARGO ON POTATOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19714, 13 August 1927, Page 12

EMBARGO ON POTATOES.

KARTiGI CONSIGNMENT. THE DATE OF SHIPMENT. [" BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 WELLINGTON. Friday. Reports regarding the Victorian potatoes which were quarantined at Auckland under the new regulations have stated that these potatoes were on the water when the regulations were issued. The horticulture division of the Department of Agriculture states that the potatoes arrived in Auckland at least 14 days after the issue of the regulations.

The mistake regarding the date of shipment has apparently only now been discovered in Wellington, for the official announcement that the potatoes would be admitted, made by the Director ot Agriculture. Dr. C. J. Reakes, in Wellington-' last. Monday, included an observation that " shipment-of the potatoes had been made before the new regulations had been issued;" The actual order of events was that, an announcement was made in the House of Representatives on June 30 by the Minister of Agriculture that regulations would be gazet.ted in a few days. They were containe'd in a supplement to the Gazette dated July 5, and came into operation immediately. . The Kartigi sailed from Melbourne on July 15, and arrived at Auckland late on July 22. Seventeen days elapsed before the prohibition against the admission of the Victorian potatoes Was lifted. They were returned to Australia by the Ulimaroa yesterday.