EXPORT OF POTATOES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15449, 9 May 1912, Page 3

EXPORT OF POTATOES.

POSITION EXPLAINED I!Y MR KIRK. In Messrs Ninimo and Blair's odicco yesterday aitcruoon Mr T. \V. Kivk, Government Biologist, met sojiic representatives _of tho leading potato merchants in Diinedin to discus; tho recent tronblo in regard to the exportation of potatoes from New Zealand to Australia.

Mr Kirk Kvin that they all knew what the difliculties had been in regard to the export of their potatoes to the other side. Tho department had been tiding all it could to obtain a relaxation of the conditions on the other side. The present regulation imposed by the Commonwealth was partly tho result of tho representations .of tho New Zealand Minister of Agriculture. Formerly New Zealand potatoes. were absolutely prohibited from going into Australia; then they «imo down to a regulation that practically still mndc it iui absolute prohibition, and now llic existing regulation!! made matters very difficult. Mr Kirk then read out tho rogulolioim imposed by the Commonwealth authorities, which showed that the clause wliich mi ml all tho dilliculty was that stating that a certificito li.-ul to be issued to the effect that tlio potatoes were free of Irish blight and canker, that they were grown iii tho country from which they wero being exerted, that the premists on wliich thoy woro grown wore, to the licst knowtalgo of tho farmer, free from diseaeo for tho preceding 12 months, and that tho |>otatoe& were packed in the country of origin in chum, new wicks. It was almost impossible, continued Mr. Kirk, that any inspector could certify that any farm li.wl not had disease upon it for 12 months. Tlio regulation said " after duo investigation," and therefore they considered that if they took a sworn declaration from the farmer tliat to the beat of his kuowlodgo no disease was known to havo existed on the form for 12 montlis, and ouo from the ship)>er testifying that tlio potatoes ho was shipping were tlio ones referred to in tho statement made by tho farmer, then that would make a complete chain from tho farmer to tho ship, ami would satisfy tlio conditions. One dilliculty that had crop|)ed up was that, According to a (statement made, a lino of potato** had lieen sent over certified to and bad been admitted, but tho next lino was objected to. Tho dilliculty was that grain graders at lliaot timo wero not responsible Government officials, and thofio lines luid been certified to by n grain grader.

in answer to a. question as to.what would happen if iiotntoCß ship|>ed with n clea.u w.rtificiUo wcro to develop blight <m tho way over, Xlr Kirlc ami they would certainly not Im admitted. Continuing, lie Kiid that they h;ul done all they could to get tho existing regulations removed, but without success, 'l'ho Commonwealth jMMpIo must not bo judged too liamhly. Air Moss (of Messrs Sliiel and Co.) state d Uiat ho had tried to get tlnvo or four different [armors to t?ign tho blightclean 'declaration, but all luid refused. If that were tho case agents wcro blocked. i\lr Kirk said that surely tho former would sign to tho best of his knowledge and belief. If ho did not, presumably there vat) disease on, his farm.

Ono of tlio agent*. stated that any of them who had bought poUitoefi a little wliilo ago wero not being assisted by tlio farmer in getting delivery. Jncnses whero, for moro reasons tlian one, tho farmer could not bo got to sign tho statement, they would liko some roliof in the. direction of tho inspector using his own discretion.

Mr Kirk Tcplied that, tho regulations mimtbo adhcnxl to, and that, it wan vital to tho interests of Now Zealand that their oartificatca should bo reliable. if tlicy wero to becflino valueless, tlie.ii lltcy wonlil fiml tho restrictions against thorn oil tho oilier tiido miido much moro Revere. Mr Moc'a asked whether it xas to be tho enw that shifters wore to bo blocked from shipping simply becaimo fannoro would JioL givo thorn a cort.ific.ite. I'arniers know that tho market hnd gone up, and wero hoping that contracts would bo cried off ami tlsil lliey would bo ablo to resell their potatoes. Mr Kirk: "Tho regulations enn not bo pot over. I liavo dono my best for you. Continuing, ho said that piwsuro should bo brought to bear on tho authorities by tho peoplo in Australia, 110 would try agiiin in a few days' timo to bring about nil improvement, but ho could do nothing moro just now.

During tho course of fomo discussion that followo*!, Mr Kirk explained ttivl- it. was incorrect to say that lie find call led to tlie other sido telling tJieni not to ncrvpt Now '/cahiiul graders' certificalw. Tho jxwition was that when a line certified In by a Qrain grader was denied »d. milt.mco tho Common-wealth authorities cabled him in regard to tho matter, and naked liim whet Iter thorn was not an inrpcotor at Diincdin, as tlioy hail reecived an ordinary tvpcwrittoji cortifiivitc, signed liyagrain gnuler, In answer to that ho ropliod stating that a pram pi-adcr was not an inspector nnder tho act. and Hint an inspector \va„ always present in Dunedin. Tho nicotine closed with on cxpreiaion of thanks to Mr Kirk.