WILL THERE BE A SHORTAGE OF POTATOES?

Chronicle (Levin), 21 June 1947, Page 4

WILL THERE BE A SHORTAGE OF POTATOES?

-Press Assoclalion

By . Telegraph

WELLINGTON, June 18. "I believe that New Zealand is apJ proaching a serious shortage of coinmodities 011 which the country depends for its direct. food supply,,J said Mr. T. I. Hayman, of Soutli Canterbury, at today 's conference of the agricultural section of the Federated Farmers. ' ' Sooner or later New Zealand will reaeh a point where there will b-e a serious shortave of food. " Mr. Hayman was diseussing a remit for a sulTieient increase in the price of potatoes -to ensure an increase in acreage. He said that last yehr South Canterbury had grown 4024 acres of potatoes. This year there were 2650 acres. That was an indication of the fall in acreage which was general throughout New Zealand except for one or two small areas in the North Island. He said there would be a further decrease ih acreage if the price were not increased. Low producing land had gone but of 'production beeause of the prices oft'ered and they would have to be brought back into production. Mr. J. H. Claridge, agronomist of the Department of Agriculture, said that though there was a decreaSe in the acreage of potatoes planted this year frbin 23,000 to 19,000 it was estimated that there would be no shortage. There would be no surplus, but .tliere would, not be the shortage sucH as might be expected from the decrease ih the acreage. Nevertheless the aim should be 22,000 acres next year. I