TASMANIAN POTATOES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19885, 11 March 1939, Page 5

TASMANIAN POTATOES

SURPRISE IN SYDNEY

LIFTING OF N.Z. EMBARGC

INQUIRY PENDING

(Elec. Till. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 11. 0 a.m.; SYDNEY, March 10. Coinciding with the Federal Government's decision to admit 1000 tons of New Zealand potatoes into Australia comes news of the worst glut of potatoes that the north-west-ern area of Tasmania has known for many years. A record consignment o£ potatoes is being collected at Burnie for shipment and a heavy drop in prices is expected when these reach the Sydney market next week. Owing to the marked disparity between tile price that is paid for potatoes by the shops and the price paid toy the public, the director of the State Marketing Bureau lias ordered a special investigation into the retail price' of potatoes.

Speaking at Canberra, the Prime Minister, Air. J. A. Lyons, deprecated any attempt to associate the .New Zealand! .potato question with the export of oranges from Australia to New Zealand.

He added that the Government's decision u> a now the restricted importation of New Zealand potatoes would not necessarily be confined to the tour weeks mentioned in the official announcement. Mr. Lyons emphasised that the position would be reviewed from time to time strictly in the light of the Australian conditions and requirements, and that the interests of the Australian growers would always be considered.

It is felt in official circles in Canberra that the present limited import will provide a va'iuab.e test perioc from which a iv.-.t per ..:t understanding may be derived.