THE POTATO MARKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 17

THE POTATO MARKET.

SHIPMENT TO AUSTRALIA. (Fbom Ode Own Cobeicspondent.* CHRISTCHURCH, June 12. In 10 days’ time potatoes will be shipped to the commonwealth. It will not bo a large shipment, but on its success possibly rests the future of the dominion market, and its success will lie not so much on the financial return (although that of course will be a factor), but on whether the potatoes will be admitted into Australia If they are admitted other shipments will follow. Hitherto the regulations on the importation of potatoes into How South Wales have been considered prohibitive. On the regulations recently supplied to merchants consignors are taking thou chance. These provide:— X. That an accredited officer of the Department of Agriculture in the dominion shall give a certificate identifying the pota toes s[/aeifving the quantity and certify, ing (a) that at the date of the certificate they were free from Irish blight, potato canker, black scab, warting, cauliflower diseases, powdery scab, and other serious diseases; (b) that they were grown in land 'that is known has not been affected witn powdery scab within the preoedmg 12 months; (c) that they are packed m clean and new packages. 2 That the bags, crates, and packages shall bo marked with the intimation that thev contain potatoes, and also with the information of the name and address of the grower. 3 Shippers will supply the chief quarantine officer at the port of entry with particulars of the consignment. Just at present the Auckland market is claimed bv northern distributors to bo clogged with supplies from the South Island. Whether the claim altogether is justified is Questionable. , Certainly there seems to lie an intention in the north to force consignment shipments from the south by abstaining from purchases on board at the port of shipment. Northern distributors mostly are holding aloof from f.o.b. business, giving the reason that, they prefer to buy’ex-wharf, Auckland, the supplies there being ample’ for the purpose. For these reasons the f.0.b., s.i. price in the south is hard to determine, there being carying Quotations. for July sellors Quote £5 ss, such figure being well above the Juno value, the reason being that some covering business Is being done by speculators .who are not taking chaneg? in view of a possible appreciation should business with Australia eventuate. It, is almost certain that if Australia refuses the shipment already referred to the rates will come back. While all this uncertainty exists a firm attitude by growers hardly could be expected. Yet. merchants profess the opinion that growers are slow sellers, few being attracted by offers of £3 10s on trucks for delivery at the end of the month.