THE POTATO MARKET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 10

THE POTATO MARKET

SHORTAGE IN AUSTRALIA PROTECTION FOR THE CONSUMER ; Unless action is taken by the Government to protect the New Zealand consumer there is danger that New Zealand will be stripped of potatoes to supply the Australian market. A statement was made by the president of the Board of Trade (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) regarding the attitude of the Government to the situation that has arisen. . "We have discovered," said the Minis- . ter, "that there is a great shortage of • potatoes in Australia, and that buyers from Australia are here prep:u?d to buy at high prices. As Minister of Agriculture I recognise that the producer must have reasonable prices for his produce, but until we ascertain whether wc have sufficient -potatoes for the requirements 'of the country at fair prices to the producers, then we must protect the consumer. If any country lias a famine in any particular product it does not follow that the consumer in New Zealand should have to pay famine prices for that particular product. We are not yet prohibiting the export of potatoes. If there ,is any district which has a surplus of potatoes, and if we have in the country sufficient potatoes for our own requirements, a permit is given for the export of potatoes. We have to take the same precaution with regard to ' grains and such products. Owing to the tremendous difficulties of 6ea transport the Government must, if possible, retain sufficient produce here for the requirements of our own people. It would be'a wrong thing for the Government to let this produce go out of the country and then have to bring it back again later in the season at tremendously increased prices. If there is a danger , that prices may go beyond a certain point whioh make them prohibitive to the consumer, the Government has to step in to protect the general community."