VEGETABLE SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 16

VEGETABLE SHORTAGE

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA SUPPLIES FROM NEW ZEALAND LOCAL MARKET RATES FIRMER Large quantities of vegetables are at present being shipped from New Zealand to Australisi, where the recent . severe heat waves and bush fires have destroyed almost the whole of the vegetable crop in the areas affected. Prices , of vegetables in Auckland and Wellington have firmed generally during the last two or three "weeks as the result of this buying "on behalf of Australian firms and hotels. Shipments from the Dominion have been chiefly confined to cabbages, Bwedes, beet and peas. It is expected that the demand from Australia will continue for from three to six months. By that tima fresh crops of vegetables are expected to mature there. Th(j first consignment of New Zealand vegetables to Australia was sent from Auckland about a fortnight ago. About 300 tons of onions were shipped last week, a total of 2700 bags being despatched by the Karepo, which left Auckland on January 27 for Sydney. A large quantity of mixed vegetables went away by the Wanganella, for Sydney and Melbourne last night. Ca'o- . bages, onions, peas, beans, turnips and pumpkins comprised the major portion of this shipment; : Australia imposes a duty of 25 per cent on vegetable?; taken into the country. This has considerably upset the buying of some Australian dealers, who made purchases without this knowledge.

SOME BELIEF AFFORDED GREATER SUPPLIES NEEDED (Received February 3, 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 3 A fairly large consignment of New Zealand mixed vegetables arrived at Sydney by the Awatea to-day and most of them will be marketed to-morrow. They are certain to find a brisk sale, in view of the unprecedented shortage of green vegetables in the eastern States. Peas, beans, marrows and cabbages are in strong demand at fancy prices. The large hotels, cafes and hospitals cannot obtain full supplies except by cornering the market. Potatoes and onions also are at famine prices and in short supply. Three hundred tons of New Zealand Onions arrived to-day and will be to-morrow. They will afford ifeome relief, but far greater consign•ments are needed to meet the public -clamour.

Local agents are hoping that New "Zealand growers will be able to rise to the occasion for two months and get the consumers here out of trouble. The New Zealand vegetables which arrived to-day are in excellent condition and not affected by the voyage. -Current market prices are:—Peas: From 10s to 16s a bushel; beans, 14s to 225; cabbages, to 16s a dozen: anions, brown, £25 to £26 a ton; white, £2O; potatoes, to £22 a ton.