POTATOES SENT TO CAMPS

Southland Times, Issue 24152, 14 June 1940, Page 4

POTATOES SENT TO CAMPS

Disposal Of Produce Grown On Reserves

WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF CROP Units of the military forces in most parts of New Zealand will, for the next few weeks, be eating potatoes grown on Invercargill city reserves. Arrangements have been completed for the disposal of the greater part of the crop by the end of next week. Considerable quantities have already been sent to the various camps and other consignments will be dispatched within a few days. The potatoes have been supplied to the Government as a gift from the City Council. In addition to the first consignment of nearly 30 tons to Burnham camp last month, the Reserves Department has forwarded six tons to the Air Department at Wigram, six tons to the Air Department at Harewood, four tons to the Army Department at Wellington and 10 tons to the Army Department at Trentham. Twenty tons of potatoes have been bagged and will be shipped to the Army Department at Papakura today. Shipping space has been arranged for the following additional consignments: —Twelve tons for the Army Department at Narrow Neck, 12 tons for the Air Department at Auckland, 20 tons for the Army Department at Papakura, 15 tons for the Army Department at Trentham and four tons for the Army Department at Wellington. By rail at the end of next week will be sent 20 tons to Burnham military camp, six tons to Wigram air training camp and four tons to Taieri air training camp. These consignments represent a total of 166 tons. The complete crop is not yet out of the ground, but the digging of the potatoes is proceeding rapidly when the weather permits. Satisfactory arrangements have been made for the disposal of all small and reject potatoes. Provision has been made for next year’s seed requirements which have been set aside ready for pitting.

The Reserves Department has been engaged in the baling and distribution of hay which was saved as part of the war emergency scheme, about 30 tons having been sold in different parts of the province. Quantities of swedes have also been sent away including six tons railed to Bumham military camp. All the operations, including transport within the city, have been carried out by the department’s staff.