DECLINE IN POTATO ACREAGE ALARMS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1947, Page 7

DECLINE IN POTATO ACREAGE ALARMS

TIMARU, Marcli^H The decrease iii the acreage of potatoes growii iu New Zealand from 29,774 iii 1944 to 19,000 iii 1946-47 was liothiug short of alariniag, and, in the evcnt of Australian whcat being held up because of shipping trouble, there would uot be enough potatoes to provide suffieient carbohydrate food for the people of the Dominion. Unless the Government inereased the price of jiotatoes to growers tlie acreage would coutiuue to fall, said Mr. T. L. Haymau, wlio returned on Saturday from Wellington, wliere a nieeting of the New Zealand Potato Advisory Uominittee was- held. • The comniitt'ee, he ' said, had forecast a decrease in the New Zealand acreage of potatoes, if the price wero not' inereased Such had been tlie case. In spite of the recommendations of various cominittees of grpwers the Stabilisation Commission liad remained adamant. A , sufficient supply was never more vital' to New Zealand than at present, as potatoes were the bestsubstitute for wheat, providing the only alternative carbohydrate food. It had to be born in mind tha(; New Zealand could be short of food before the next harvest. The eost of planting and harvesting an acre of potatoes in South Canterbury was 555. With an average yield of six tons to the acre the present price was uneeonomic for those on average land. The Stabilisation Commission had a grave responsibiiity in the matter, and unless it granted an inerease in price a scareity of potatoes would jeopardise the food Pnpply* / _ ]'