PRICE OF POTATOES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2494, 22 June 1915, Page 7

PRICE OF POTATOES

UP TO £8 10s. PEE TON HERE. General regret, is being expressed by retailers and wholesalers that the price of potatoes should have advanced at the present time. With flour selling at £18 10s. per ton, and oatmeal, sugar, and every other commodity stiffening in price, potatoes, up till two or threo weeks ago, were the only cheap article among the staple foods. Last month good potatoes were selling at £5 10s. per ton (or ss. 6d. per cwt.) at the Wellington markets. To-day , the price is £8 10s. for South Canterbury potatoes ia Wellington, but holders aro declining to quote, preferring to hold owing to the strong demand from Australia. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. P. Massey) las intervened to prevent holders "bulling" the market, by a firmly-de-clared intention of prohibiting l any further export if the prices advance. "The prices now are £7 ss. and £7 10s. in .the south, but we are unable to get hold of any," said one merchant at the markets yesterday. - "There are any amount of potatoes this year, but as soon as the demand came from Australia the farmers became coy, and disinclined to sell, preferring to take the chance of a further rise before they clear their pits. . "If they don't look out they'll be nipped," he continued, "as once it gets round that half a dozen growers are selling they all rush into the market at the one time, and down will go tho price to £4 or £3 10s. per ton. Personally I'm glad to see Mr. Massoy act so promptly. It will prevent tho public here bowg exploited simply because there is a shortage in Australia." \