WELLINGTON POTATO MARKET.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 170, 10 December 1912, Page 4

WELLINGTON POTATO MARKET.

RECORD PRICES. Potato growers who have had tubers for sale during the past few weeks in Wellington, have reaped a veritable harvest, but, taking a line through the abnormally high prices which' have been ruling, the number of suppliers cannot have been very heavy. A couple of weeks ago New Zealand growers and merchants were somewhat staggered by a cable message from Australia, which stated that potatoes there had realised £22 per ton, and few expected that this enormous price would be beaten in New Zealand, and that aftet; the new season's supplies had been coming in for some weeks. Each succeeding day shows, some change in the potato market, the prices being ruled by the quantity coming forward. Last week saw the tubers in short supply, and the top price received for new potatoes (Hutt grown) was £25 per ton. This is a record such as has not been equalled for many years. Old potatoes are also still bringing excellent prices, the week-end seeing £l2 to £l3 a ton offering. There are several causes which have hd to the present abnormal prices, outside of the heavy drain on New Zealand supplies, owing to the shortage in Australia. One is the backward season, another the prolonged wet weather, which has prevented digging, and,- thirdly, the blight has ruined many of the crops. It is difficult to say how long the present high orices will rule, but it looks as though they will keep up to a high standard for some time.