EXPORT OF POTATOES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20642, 14 February 1929, Page 13

EXPORT OF POTATOES.

THE AUSTRALIAN EMBARGO. A SCARCITY IN SYDNEY. .. The question of exporting potatoes to Sydney has again arisen this season (says the Lyttelton Times). A year or two ago -large quantities -wore shipped to Sydney from Canterbury and;Otago, but at the instance of the Victorian growers the Federal Government decided 1 to put an embargo on New Zealand potatoes. The. reason given- was that the Dominion tubers were affected with a disease known as powdery scab. This disease was alleged to have been found in a small shipment of 25 tons sent- to Melbourne, though, in spite of careful examination, it was .apparently hot found in any of the thousands of tons of potatoes. that were sent to Sydney. that year. "■ There Is every reason to believe that the real reason for the embargo -was not powdery scab, but-the protection of the interests of the Victorian growers. ,

This season the question of the shipment of New Zealand potatoes to Sydney has been' revived, mainly because potatoes are scarce and dear in the NewSouth Wales capital. Some weeks ago a suggestion was made that, Auckland growers . should endeavour to have the embargo removed, in order that an outlet might be provided for the surplus that was at that time flooding the northern market. Nothing came of this, and, in any case, it would probablyhave proved a limited and not - altogether Satisfactory trade,'because Auckland grown potatoes do not keep well. Canterbury grown potatoes are in a different category,' and there, seems little doubt that, but for the embargo, there would be a ready and profitable sale for them in Sydney later in the year, when they are fit for shipment. The New South Wales crop has been practically a failure this season. It isestimated that the Tasmanian crop will, be from 10 to 15 per cent, less than usual, while-a reduction is also -expected; in the Victorian yield on account of the dry weather experienced in-that State.' Trade with Sydney would, of course; be of benefit to Canterbury growers; but unfortunately the prospects of this seem rather remote. • The Department of Agriculture recently received word from the Sydney authorities that tbs' importation of potatoes from New Zealand for “ food purposes ” had been defi-' nitely refused.

TKe position with regard to the market in Sydney is set out in the fol-* lowing letter received by a Christchurch .merchant from a firm ■ of. Sydney merchants " Since the beginning of Jaiiu-' ary prices have ranged from,' flQ 1, to £25 a ton, and, as we write, Tasmanian potatoes are worth f2O and Victorians £lB. These high values can” scarcely be expected to bold, but, as our ; local crops are practically a failure,and, as there is no other, source of supply except from your side, we do not. think we will be far out in estimating an average 6f £l2to£l6. It is vety-J unfortunate that ' your potatoes are* barred from entering the Commonwealth, at the present time, but we think that, - ' If a united movement were to take place* at your end- and then your took the matter up with the Federal authorities here, some concession coul<. surely be made in a season like the" present. If we can assist the merchants on your |!do in any way we will be oal»too glad to do so,” ‘ <