POTATO PRICES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 2

POTATO PRICES

(P A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Barclay, announced to-night that an agreement had been reached with the New Zealand Grain. Seed and Produce Merchants' Federation regarding the application of the present potato price order and contracts entered Into by the trade prior to that order becoming operative. "It was the original Intention of the vegetable committee," said the Minister, "that all contracts not completed by the date the order was Issued should either be adjusted to conform with the order or cancelled. However, at a representative meeting of all sections of the Industry held yesterday the view was stongly pressed by both producer and merchant representatives that contracts made before the issue of the order should be allowed a reasonable period to be completed. It was finally decided that I should recommend to the Price Tribunal that the existing price order should apply only in respect of all sales made on or after May 15. Uncompleted contracts entered Into before that date must be completed by June 30. This means that if potatoes to be delivered against these uncompleted contracts have not been placed on trucks at the growers' station by June 30 such contracts are automatically cancelled as at that date. I am now able to advise the trade that the Price Tribunal has recognised this agreement, which will become operative immediately." concluded the Minister.