POTATO PUZZLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24024, 23 July 1941, Page 6

POTATO PUZZLE

AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIES NO IMPORT LICENCES FIRM SOLICITING ORDERS (8.1t.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday A stir was caused in the House of Representatives to-day when, after the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, had stated that no merchant had received a licence to import potatoes, Mr. I). C. Kidd (Opposition — Waitaki) read a circular letter from a Kaiapoi firm soliciting orders for imported potatoes. Several members on both sides of the House interjected at the one time, and the Speaker, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, had Jo call several times for order.

After referring to the Canterbury potato crop and to the opinion he had formed that there would be no need to import potatoes from Australia, Mr. Kidd said it was a little strange that he had received a circular from which it appeared that one firm of merchants had received a licence to import them. Mr. Barclay: No merchant has received any licence for the importation of potatoes. Firm's Letter Quoted Mr. Kidd: I am pleased to hear the Minister say that, but does he know a firm called C. Morgan Williams and Sons, of Kaiapoi ? Mr. Barclay: Yes, but they have not received any licence to import potatoes. Mr. Kidd: Well, I will read their letter, in which they circularise peoplo and say they can supply for August or September delivery. Mr. Kidd then read from a document in which it was stated that the price of a line of table potatoes expected to be available for delivery in August or September would depend on the amount of import duty charged. Mr. Barclay: That does not say they have a licence.

Mr. Kidd: Well, they are soliciting orders. Are they going to smuggle them in ? Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition— Stratford): Now we know what is going on. The Speaker: Order, orrler. An Opposition Member: Perhaps they are going to get them hero by submarine. Statement by Mr. McOombs Speaking when the House resumed at night Mr. T. M. McCombs (Government —Lyttelton) said Mr. Kidd had referred to the member for Kaiapoi as a private member. That member said— The Speaker: May I say that the private affairs of a member of this House may not bG discussed. Mr. McCombs said the application for the importation of potatoes was made by the member's son and was made by the son as manager of the business without the knowledge of Mr. C. Morgan Williams. The department's reply was that the application was under consideration. No licence for the importation of potatoes was granted or was likely to be granted. Mr. Barclay: Quite right. "Mr. Williams' opinion is that no potatoes should be imported and that the department and no private firm should be allowed to handle importations," said Mr. McCombs. Mr. Barclay: Quite right. Mr. McCombs continued that Mr. Kidd did not say the licence had been granted and he should not have made the attack. Misrepresentation Alleged An Opposition member: He read the letter. "You can't get away with that," replied Mr. McCombs. When Mr. McCombs finished his speech Mr. Kidd rose to explain that he had been misrepresented by Mr. McCombs, who had accused him of discussing a member's private affairs. Mr. McCombs: You did.

Mr. Kidd: It is a wrong attack. I quoted from a letter written by C. Morgan Williams and Son, grain and produce merchants, Kaiapoi, soliciting orders for potatoes. I did not mention the lion, member's name.