PRICE OF POTATOES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12752, 23 September 1919, Page 8

PRICE OF POTATOES.

REMOVAL OF EMBARGO. RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH PRICES. Some local merchants deny the allegations that large stocks of potatoes are being held by growers with- a view to keeping up x>rices. The manager of a large grain and produce warehouse stated to-day that he doubted whether there were 500 tons of x>otatoes in the whole of Canterbury. He had made inquiries, and had come to the conclusion that no large stocks of /potatoes were being held by growers. There were a few tons here and there, but nothing to warrant the assumption that the growers were deliberately exploiting the public by withholding their stocks As a matter of fact there had been a steady supply to the North Island, and this, in conjunction with the export to Australia had reduced the supplies available for the local market. There was no doubt that the removal of the embargo on export had resulted in keeping the price up. If the Government had retained the embargo it would have kept the price down. If there had - been an open market for export throughout the season, and if shipping had been available, the public W'ould now be paying probably 80s a sack, retail for potatoes, instead of 22s 6d as at present. Another point stressed was that the public did not take into consideration the various exx>enscs- incurred after the purchase of potatoes from the farmer and before they reached the retailer. The farmer was paid for his'produce basis of f.o-b., at the nearest iailway station. To this had to be added freight, cost of sacks, handling in store, cartage, etc., „with the result that the imice to the retail purchaser was not an # excessiVe one, as might at first appear from a comparison of the quotation to farmers with The local market prices. “ Where the public is exploited,” said the sx>eaker, “is when they buy sacks of potatoes, described as ‘ full sacks* from hawkers who are selling 1601b sacks. These men buy a line of potatoes, re-bag them, and then go round selling these smaller bags as sacks.’ By this means they make a considerable profit on their deal. -People should see when they buv a sack of potatoes that they get* a full-sized sack, and not a 1601b bag.”