RETAIL PRICES OF POTATOES

Southland Times, Issue 24769, 13 June 1942, Page 4

RETAIL PRICES OF POTATOES

ORDER FIXING MAXIMUM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 12. The maximum retail prices at which potatoes may be sold in New Zealand between now and the end of November are fixed in a Price Order gazetted today for June and July. The maximum that can be charged in Canterbury and Otago will be l%d per lb. At all other main port centres it will be 2d per lb and in country districts it will be 2 lid per lb. For the remaining months. August to November inclusive, the maximum retail prices are to be increased by lid per lb. Subject to these maximum prices a retailer must not charge a price which exceeds his own costs for supplies, including grading and transport charges, plus 33 1-3 per cent. The new order, which does not apply to new potatoes, is in substitution of the order dealing with potato prices issued by the Price Tribunal last month. The order also fixes the rates to be charged by growers, distributors and wholesalers. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said these prices applied only to potatoes grown in the South Island and they did not apply to any such potatoes that had been sold on or before May 14 and were actually delivered to the purchaser on or before June 30. The order did not apply te the produce of seed potatoes planted at any time after March 31.