POTATO SHORTAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19883, 9 March 1939, Page 6

POTATO SHORTAGE

RESULT OF 1938 GLUT

WATCH ON AUSTRALIA

ONION PRICES HIGH The price of potatoes in Gisborne at present is high compared with the prices ruling in average years, according to a retailer who was interviewed to-day. The cost of onions also is high, but there have been good crops in Gisborne of all other vegetables and they arc- cheap as a result. At present, he said, potatoes were costing householders 14s (id a cw.t, and if bought in small! lots of a few pounds 2d per pound, or 18s a ewt. Usually at this time of the year retailers re'ied on, ‘local crops and did not find it necessary to buy from Canterbury, but .his season there had been a great decrease in file quantity of .seeds planted on account of the glut of potatoes on the market last year. Even householders had refrained from planting substantial crops this season, which had made the demand greater. Southern Growers’ Attitude

Retailers were in the dark concerning ithe possible turn of the market, he said, because of the apparent attitude of the southern growers while awaiting fhe outcome of the negotiations between the New Zealand and Commonwealth Governments concerning the export of potatoes from the Dominion to Australia. He considered that the difficulties being experienced h,v Gisborne retailers in securing sufficient quantities of potatoes from the south were caused l by the growers refusing to dig crops until the Government's decision was known. If New Zealand .potatoes were allowed into Australia .the prices in the Dominion '.voulri go 'higher. The effects of the glut on the market were experienced last year in Canterbury and, for that reason, the crops available now were not as extensive as in 1938.

There was a .shortage of onions in the Gisborne district, and they were being sold over the .counter in town at id a lb, whereas usually 'at tills time of the year they couid be bought in quantities of 5 or (ilb for Is. The retailer being interviewed considered that the .prices would show a tendency to go- higher rather .Hum decrease. Onions were being sent from the Dominion to Australia.

The wholesale price quoted in Wellington .for potatoes was Cs to 10s (id, the price in Gisborne being 12s Gd.