SOUTH ISLAND POTATOES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20217, 19 September 1935, Page 10

SOUTH ISLAND POTATOES

AUCKLAND FIRM’S COMPLAINT TIMARU COMMENT The complaints regarding the condition of South Island potatoes shipped to the North Island, made by the Auckland firm of Perkins and Sons in a letter to the editor of ‘The Timaru Herald” yesterday, were referred t 6 Timaru merchants for comment, the general opinion being that the position had been over-stated. A reporter was told that with the exception of consignment lots partically all potatoes going to the North Island carried a grader’s certificate. If the remarks passed by Perkins and Sons were correct, why did the firm not appeal against the grader’s certificate, which right it had under the conditions of sale. Evidently the potatoes referred to were consignment lines which were regraded. Very often when a line was rejected at the ship it was sent on consignment in order to save the extra expense of sending it back to store for picking over etc. “It is rather strange that this comment should come now as farmers during the last year or two have been going in for certified seed potatoes which are grown under Government supervision,” said the merchant. Reference had been made in the letter to corky scab, but this would always be more or less with us as when potatoes were grown where a stack had been they were usually affected. Corky scab, however, only affected the skin of the potato, but here again these potatoes would be on consignment and buyers taking them in preference to graded lines did so at a reduced price. Speaking of the complaint regarding bad sacks, the merchant explained that the grader would not issue a certificate unless the sacks were fit for shipping, but here again the Auckland firm concerned must have been referring to consignment potatoes. Efforts To Maintain Quality. “It is the desire of all South Canterbury growers and merchants to deliver good quality potatoes to the North Island and so maintain the trade,” said another merchant. Some of the statements contained in the Auckland letter were open to grave doubt. This year, on account of the high price for table potatoes, smaller table potatoes were saleable and there was a fairly good inquiry for these at £2 a ton below the price of ordinary f.a.q. tables. These potatoes were sent on consignment and were inspected by the North Island buyers before purchase. There had often been argument regarding the condition of South Island potatoes, but there was nfe doubt that the Auckland letter had greatly overstated the position. The complaint regarding so-called bad sacks could be answered by the following instruction to graders: “Graders are to be instructed to refuse certificates for produce tendered in sacks, which, in their opinion, are unfit for shipment.”