DOMINION POTATOES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 9

DOMINION POTATOES

ADMISSION TO AUSTRALIA TASMANIAN OPPOSITION HOBART. Jan. 9 In the course of the statement made by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, in his address to potato-growers at Devonport, Tasmania, yesterday, he detailed his proposed plan. This was to admit 10,000 tons of New Zealand potatoes for one year, the imports to be regulated so that there would be no glutting of the market. This would allow an outlet to be found in New Zealand for citrus fruits, and the relations between the two countries would be vastly improved. Mr. Lyons said the Commonwealth Government was determined to view the problem from the point of view of the Commonwealth as a whole and to consider the interests of mainland citrus growers who were being denied the right to sell their produce in New Zealand because of the existence of the Australian embargo against New Zealand potatoes. The Prime Minister added: "While I am concerned with the potato growers of my electorate I am concerned with citrus growers on the mainland as well, and it is my duty to help the citrus growers if I can. Their plight is as bad as it can be. They have to find a market outside or bo completely crippled." After Mr. Lyons had concluded his address a large number of those present spoke strongly agajnst any alteration of the embargo, and a resolution protesting against such action was carried unanimously.