PRICE OF POTATOES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1210, 19 August 1911, Page 8

PRICE OF POTATOES.

FAMINE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. .Some time ngo, says a Perth message published in (he Melbourne "Arc" the Government prohibited the importation of potatoes from the eastern States, in order to prevent tho introduction of. Irish blight into .Western Australia. Tho result has boon a" potato/l'amino in tho State; anil potatojs have gone up in price -id. per lb. I'ho Chincfio growers have.been making fortunes or;tof the prohibition, order. One small shipment of ten tons.of. Adelaide potatoes, was admitted a few days ago,..* and tho importer ,is said to. have netted over J3200 profit. Tho Department of Agriculture recently arranged for tho importation of potatoes, which., might bo peeled.in bond, and thus delivered, to the'.'purchaser' at a. greatly reduced pn'co compared with that being paid for the locally grown article. Accommodation wqs ■ provided on .the wharves , at Perth and Frcmantle, where the purchasers are permitted to-peel the potatoes, this bavins to be.done'to the satisfaction of the officers of the Depart-ment.-The right, to• purchase is!not restricted to any particular section of tho community, but it is possible for' any person.desirous of importing'potatoes to do ■so under th«e alto'rccl and amended conditions, The potatoes arc not allowed to remain in the shed for a. greater period thiiu. six days, and it is incumbent on the purchaser to see that the,rffuse from the.pselinij, etc., is properly disposed of as.directed by the'inspector. ' This experiment by the Government of importing potatoes and peeling.' ■ then) in;>boiid hashad the,.effect of, , reducing the. retail price from'4d. to'2Jd. per 11).' The' Department sslls'afc' ifill a"tbn.-- The eostiflf.peeling is 15..3d. cwt. It 19 intended to establish potato-ueelinirdepart-ments., in' the country. •In -this . way: a plentiful supply of . potatoes "can be obtained, and thero.is.no fear of. introducing the.disease to tho Western 'Australian potato fields. '•*■'. ..■•-'•.. ...