THE POTATO MARKET

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 13

THE POTATO MARKET

DEMAND FROM AUSTRALIA. PRICES INCREASING. (Fbou Con Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Juno 17. Then has been a further flutter in tha potato market within the last day or two, and the Prime Minister, who -has had thrust upon him the unrecognised offlce of Minister of Foodstuffs, was asked to-day whether he had given the matter any attention. “Only to-day,” said Mr Massey, “my attention has been called to the serious increase that has taken place within the last few days in the price of potatoes, owing, it is said, to a very strong demand that has set in from Australia. I _ have been given to understand that the price of prime potatoes in Wellington to-day is £8 per ton, and I am informed that some ' people are of opinion that the price will rise still higher. I may say that I cannot allow this country to be left short of potatoes, and if this goes on I shall ask tho Cabinet to prohibit the exportation of pota-

toes. I confess that 1 cannot understand what is talcing place here, because in the last Australasian which arrived in New Zealand the price of potatoes was quoted at about £6 per ton. There is a duty of £1 per ton in Australia on imported potatoes, and I presume the freight to Australia would bo about £1 per ton. These charges, with merchants’ profits added to the high prices said to be ruling here, would make New Zealand potatoes very dear in Australia. However, it is just- as well to strike a note of warning so that there may be no rush or panic with regard to this article of food.” It is interesting in this connection to note the effect of another warning given some time ago by the Prime Minister with regard to the price of butter. The price was climbing rapidly, if gradually, oh account, it was alleged, of an unexpected demand from Australia. That demand is presumably strong yet, and production in Now Zealand must be declining in this, the winter season, but since Mr Massey made his announcement that if the price was raised further he would take steps to prohibit all export the price of butter locally has not increased. WELLINGTON, June 17. In the course of his statement, Mr Massey said ho had taken steps to secure all the available information regarding the condition of the potato market. The Government had been given ample power to prevent the depletion of food stocks at the present juncture. If purchases of the last few days on Australian orders were continued he might have to prohibit the export of potatoes. He had asked the Agricultural Department for particulars as to the quantities likely to be available in this country, but ho was afraid that exact statistics bearing upon the point were not obtainable. The records showed merely the area planted. However, the matter was going to have attention at once. CANTERBURY MARKETS. N. GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS, (Lyttelton Times, June 19.) The grain and produce market is still fairly quiet, and most of the business being done is in chaff and potatoes. Prices for wheat and oats continue firm; but it is apparent that farmers are holding very small stocks of these cereals. , The chaff market is very bare, and buyers

are experiencing groat difficulty in obtaining supplies. Prices are very firm, bright oatshcaf ranging up to £7, oat straw to £3, and wheat straw to £2 10s. The largo amount of exports of potatoes to Australia, together with the poor crops, have resulted in a further increase in price, and to-day they are quoted at £5 15s to £6 per ton, most of the business being done at the latter figure. There are, however, very few coming in, the majority of the farmers who hold stocks preferring not to sell at present. Bran is firmer, to-day’s prices for local delivery being £8 15s, and for shipping £8 10s, a general increase ol 10s per ton. The only 7 change to report in dairy produce is a fall of Id per dozen in eggs, the current quotation being Is 7d. Ihe following quotations arc for purchases from farmers, not cash, sacks extra delivered at country stations: Wheat, —(Nominal), Tuscan 6s 8d to 6s 10d, Hunters 6s 9d to 6s lOd, Pearl 6s lOd to 6s lid. Oats —A grade Gartens 4s. B grade os 10d, Duns 4s 2d, Algerians to 4s 3d. Barley— (Nominal), prime malting 6s to 6s 3d, medium 5s 3d to 5s 6d. Peas —Blue Prussians, 6s 4d; Partridge, 5s Chaff—Bright oatshcaf £6 15s to £7, oat straw chaff £3, wheat straw £2 ss. Bran—Local £8 15s, f.o.b. £8 10s. Potatoes —£5 15s to £6. Pollard —£9 10s per ton. Onions —£3. Oatmeal—£23 per ton. ' Flour—Sacks £l7 10s, 1001 b bags £lB, 501 b bags £lB ss, 251 b bags £lB 10s Seeds —(Nominal), ryegrass, Italian and perennial, 5s 6cl to ; cocksfoot, 131 b seed 7id to 8cl; white clover, farm dressed, Is; covvgrass, 6 2 d to 7d. Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory BJ 2 cl, dairy large B^d; butter, local factory prints, first grade Is 6 2 d, second grade Is OAh farmers’ separator Is 2d. farm dairy Is, hams lOd, ham rolls lOgd, lard pats lOd, eggs, Is 7d. TIMARU. The Tiraaru correspondent of the Christchurch Press writes: —“The firmness on the wheat market noted last week is still strongly in evidence. What caused the price to rush up so suddenly is not very clear; but there is a decided impression that wheat will bo in very short supply before next spring. Tuscan was _ sold in Timaru to-day at 7s per bushel m store, and velvet and red chaff easily command the same price, prime samples being worth 7s at country stations. There is. however, very little offering, some holders entertaining fanciful ideas as to what they will get later on if they hold.” NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. VALUES OF EXPORTS. WELLINGTON, Juno 17. Following are the values of the principal items of New Zealand products exported during the week ended June 15: Jb. Butter Cheese f 3,495 Frozen lamb 30 383 Frozen mutton 24,340 Frozen beef, etc. 14,411 Gold 180 Grain and pulse ••• 7,309 Hides and skins 9>045 Kauri gum- 10,108 Flax and tow 4.016 Tallow 8.551 Timber 7,589 Wool •• 146,582 SHIPMENTS ON THE MOKOIA. The Moko’a, which saded on Thursday for Melbourne, via Lyttelton and Wellington, took the following cargo from Dunedin for Melbourne: — 3600 sacks cement 760 sacks pollard 742 sacks bran 12 draught horses. For Hobart — 540 sack-j cement. SHIPMENTS BY THE KOROMIKO. The Koromiko, which sailed on Thursdaynight for Sydney direct, took the following cargo from Dunedin: 240 sacks potatoes 655 sacks oats 551 sacks turnips 17,301 oaten and wheaten straw chaff 3,239 sacks oaten sheaf chaff 2,483 bales straw.