SEED POTATOES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 171, 22 July 1942, Page 6

SEED POTATOES

ORDERS MOUNTING

CRITICAL STAGE REACHED

An indication that thousands of tons of seed potatoes are required for planting in New Zealand in tn next few weeks is given in replies sent to the New Zealand Grain Seed and Produce Merchants Federation in response to a D°™ in | on ® p r -' quiry. Several of the larger nier charits in Auckland have each revealed that the Quantities needed for their customers run into hundreds 01 tons. "These potatoes must be made available before the end of August, and a substantial quantity immediately, to enable planting operations to go ahead without delay, saidla leading city merchant to-day. -He stated that the merchants had been unable to obtain supplies for weeks past, due to the effects of Government control, which came into force late in the autumn.

Urgent representations were made to the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in a telegram sent to him last week by Messrs. Arthur Yates and Co., Ltd.. prior to his departure for Australia. The telegram stated: The supply position of southern seed potatoes for planting in the North Island is now critical, through the interference of the Government with the normal channels of distribution of this perishable commodity

The Prime Minister's reply stated that the Department of Agriculture was collaborating with the Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants' Federation "to ensure that supplies will be made available against orders received, to the extent varieties are available," and that the federation was obtaining details of requirements, which would receive immediate attention.

Many of those clamouring for seed potatoes, it was learned as a result of to-dav's inquiries, were country people, 'mainly farmers, who were now largely dependent on public transport services for the delivery of orders. The drastic curtailment of such services had created an additional problem, and the whole position was causing most serious concern.

Still another factor affecting the supply of seed potatoes is the fixation of guaranteed prices announced to-day for the coming season's crop. These prices, it is predicted, will act as an unlimited guarantee and will influence southern commercial growers to retain abnormally large quantities of potatoes for planting, thus depriving the North Island of much-needed supplies. The prices are stated to be higher than have ruled for many years under normal marketing, and are expected to have far-reaching and most disturbing effects upon production, encouraging growers to concentrate to the maximum extent on potatoes and to plan their operations with a view to profiting as much as possible from the guarantee.

Gunner Leslie Gordon Jaclcson, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Jackson, 30, Cockburn Street, Grey Lynn, is reported killed in action. Prior to his departure overseas Gunner Jackson Held an executive position in the Grey Lynn branch of the Labour party.