POTATO CROP

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22934, 3 July 1944, Page 4

POTATO CROP

233,000 Bags Await Shipment Lack Of Grading Machines “At a conservative estimate there are 233,000 bags of potatoes pitted on the farms of South Canterbury awaiting grading, while the North Island market has negligible supplies,” states a letter from the executive of the South Canterbury Potato Growers’ Association, which was sent on Saturday to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts). The shortage of potato grading machines have been intimated to the Minister, said the president (Mr R. Stout) and he had advised that graders could be procured from a firm in Christchurch. Representations were made, but the firm could not supply a grader this season. Eventually a Timaru firm had undertaken to supply grading machines and this information was sent to the Minister together with the following advice:— “We think it likely that this firm will be able to manufacture a grader suitable to the requirements of the district for delivery shortly and in time relieve the present pressure. Except for a new grader owned by a mercantile firm all the graders here are old Cooch graders with a limited capacity and unsuitable for the work involved. We are endeavouring to have itinerant graders made available to grade on farms at a price of about 6/6 a bag in lieu of 2/6 a bag charged in stores. Store graders cannot grade all samples at once, while the new grader being evolved would grade f.a.q. tables, undergrade tables, large seed, small seed and pig potatoes at the one time, whereas potatoes have to be put over the old Cooch graders twice to obtain this result,” states the letter. Potatoes Shrivelling The present position was unfortunate. said Mr Stout, as the pitted potatoes under straw were shrivelling and rotting while North Island merchants were anxiously awaiting deliveries. F.a.q. table potatoes, without grading, would not pass f.a.q. because of the earth adhering to them as a result of the wet conditions. Since there was an acute shortage of grading machines, potatoes had to be pitted to protect them from frost. What was required of the Minister was to allow the potatoes to be picked up in two samples and allow the La.q. lot to be shipped even although they were earthy. When the matter had been referred to the Minister a short time ago, sai-i Mr Stout, he replied that the prohibition upon the export to the North Island of other than f.a.q. potatoes had been in force since 1940. The Association had replied that farmers knew that the terms had not been complied with and that they had the assurance of merchants and others that undergrade potatoes had regularly gone forward to the North Island from the South Island to be accepted at whatever price the market would take. The Minister stated that he was guided in his decisions by the Potato Advisory Committee. The Association had replied, said Mr Stout, that while the committee might be composed entirely of representatives nominated by the growers and merchants, the only representative from this district, was Mr G. B. Green, a merchant representative. It was reasonable to conclude that representatives from Tuatapere to Auckland would not be competent to judge conditions of harvesting in the deplorably wet conditions prevailing in South Canterbury this season. The Association was also aware that Mr W. J. Fletcher cam? from this district, but he represented the Waimate district, whose problems were not theirs. Members had expressed their determination to Increase the acreage to the extent desired by the Government, but Mr Stout said he had been instructed by the Association to advise the Minister that they were determined to hammer at the matter until regulations more suited to the district were passed. The following resolution was adopted at a recent meeting: “That no regulation dealing with any crop should be introduced other than before the time of closing of growers’ contracts.” The letter concluded by asking to know the term of office of the Potato Advisory Committee and the method of election of members. They had not, as growers, been invited to take part in the election of the present members.