DEAL IN POTATOES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25344, 27 October 1945, Page 8

DEAL IN POTATOES

DELAYS AND LOSSES CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT (S.fi.) WELLINGTON. Friday The purchase of potatoes from 'lasmania by the Internal Marketing Division ami the bad condition in which some of the shipments arrived in New Zealand were severely criticised by Opposition members in the House of Representatives today when the Imprest Supply .Hill was being debated. "I have seen hundreds of bass in such a condition that they could not be handled," said -Mr R. G. Gerard (Opposition Mid-Canterbury). "The .Internal Marketing Division was told by merchants that the consignment, was not up to contract and they advised the division not to take them. Ihe probable cost of landing the potatoes was £l9 a ton. They were offered to merchants at £H 2s 6d. r lhc Director of the Internal 'Marketing Division went to Australia and did some very strange buving. He bought bad-keeping types although there were good-keeping types which he apparently did not bother to buy. m . "Muddle and Inefficiency"

"Then the delays were so great that the potatoes were landed in New Zealand when our own early varieties, particular! v from Auckland, were ready, causing a glut on the market." "Don't be funny," interjected Mr A. S. Richards (Government —Roskill). "If the Auckland consignment is as had as I am told it was," continued Mr Gerard, "there will be a cost to the taxpayers of anything up to £30,000. It is just another example of muddle and inefficiency by the Government. Private enterprise wanted to the job. but was not allowed. The Minister of Agriculture has given us an incorrect reply and we are entitled to the trutn. Mr C. M. Williams ,(Government: — Kaiapoi) explained that the condition of the Tasmanian potatoes when they arrived in New Zealand was due entirely to shipping delays for which the Government <Vas not responsible. "I inspected about 300 tons in the sheds at Wellington, and without exaggeration 40 per cent were unfit for human consumption and would have to be dumped." said Mr J. A. Roy (Opposition—Clutha). "In the face of this the Minister said in reply to a question that only a small proportion showed deterioration and only a few were affected."

Minister's Contention The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Roberts, interjected to say that there had been a later reply than this. "The full information and the reply is misleading." said Mr Roy. Mr Richards said that the reason merchants had been refused permits was that the Tasmanian Government had laid it down that it would negotiate only on a Govern men t-to-Governnient basis. Australian potatoes could only be sold in New Zealand at a loss because Australian prices were higher "than the New Zealand price. The potatoes were in excellent condition when shipped from Tasmania, but careless loading had been responsible for the deterioration.

SLUM CLEARANCE CHANGES MADE IN BILL NATIVE HOUSING INCLUDED (P.A.) "WELLINGTON, Friday The inclusion of native housing within the scope of the provisions of the Housing Improvement- Bill is the most important, amendment made to the bill by the Local Bills Committee of the House of Representatives, which reported the bill back to the House today. The original bill excluded native housing from the bill unless occupied by a person who was not a native. Another amendment provides that the authority given to the Minister _ of Works to order work to be done to improve housing conditions when a local authority fails to take steps to do so, is not to be exercised in relation to any house on native land without the consent of the local authority.

The provision dealing with the vacation of houses, where demolitions or improvements are necessary has been amended, and it will now be no offence if the occupancy of a house is continued unless suitable alternative accommodation has been offered. Previously the accommodation was what an inspector of factories regarded as suitable. The powers given to local authorities in the original bill concerning the reclamation of overcrowded areas also have been amended by the committee, and a local authority may now resubdivide and improve a reclamation area or any land adjacent acquired by the local authority under the bill. There is a proviso, however, that before the local authority carries out any resubdivision or improvement it is required to obtain the approval of the Town Planning Board to its proposals as to the future use of the land. To assist local authorities to carry out any scheme for the subdivision and improvement of any reclamation area, provision is made for the Government to contribute to the costs.

DUTCH CONSUL-GENERAL ARRIVAL IN CITY TODAY Recently appointed the first ConsulGeneral for the Netherlands iu New. Zealand, Jonkheer Dr W. E. Van Panhuys, will arrive from Sydney by flying-boat this afternoon. The present Consul for the Netherlands in Wellington, Mr M. F. Vigeveno. will leave shortly to reopen the Netherlands Con-sulate-General at Singapore, , Jonkheer Dr Van Panhuys was formerly counsellor at the Netherlands Legation at Canberra. He is married and has two young children. He entered the Netherlands foreign service in 1929 and has served at Copenhagen. Prague, Paris. Rome and Madrid. His title is the equivalent of that of a baronet. He will leave for Wellington by R.N.Z.A.F. plane tomorrow morning.' DEGREES CONFERRED NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY (P.A.) _ _ WELLINGTON, Friday The University of New Zealand announces that the following degrees have been conferred:— .Bachelor of Arts.—Canterbury University College: Francis Oscar Burtt. University of Otago: lan Graham Ilvburn. Bachelor of Commerce.—University of Otago: Alfred Noel Lawson. Bachelor of Engineering.—Canterbury University College: James Hargest Cockerell (civil), Ivan Lowe (electrical), with hons., B.Sc., Robert George Norman (civil) with honours. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.—University, of Otago: Thomas Robert Alexander Davis. MAORI CHIEFS DEATH (0.C.) PUKEKOHE, Friday The death has occurred of a wellknown leader of the Maori race. Mr Rawiri Te Anau, of Pukekohe Hill, aged 82. He was born in Taranaki and was a chief of the Ngati Pare, a branch of the Ngati Tahinga tribe. Mr Te Anau was a loyal follower of King Koroki. Most of his life was spent in the Weraroa-Te Akau district, in Raglan County, and ho came to Pukekohe 19 years ago. He is survived by seven sons and one daughter, and there are 32 grandchildren and five great-grand-children. The burial is to take place at the Taupiri sacred mountain on Monday afternoon.