THE POTATO MARKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 41, 18 June 1915, Page 5

THE POTATO MARKET.

CONCERN IN NEW ZEALAND, Pvh Phkbh Apsoptatton. Wellington, June 17. During the last week or two, heavy orders for potatoes have been reaching IVew Zealand from Australia, and the drain upon the Dominion's supplies has begun to excite alarm in the local market, where prices have risen sharply since the beginning of May. The'matter was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister to-day, and Mr Massey informed a press representative that he 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, and he realised that, while New Zealand would be glad to serve Australia up to a certain point, the rights of the local public had to be protected. The people of the Dominion must not be asked to pay famine prices for potatoes. "I cannot'allow this country to be left short of potatoes," said the Prime Minister. "If the heavy purchases of the last few days on Australian orders are continued. I may have to prohibit the export of)potatoes. I have asked the Agricultural Department .for particulars as to ihe quantities to be available in this country, but I am afraid that exact statistics hearing upon the point are not obtainable, the records showing merely the area planted. However, the matter is going to have attention at once."