EXPORT OF POTATOES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 10

EXPORT OF POTATOES

' ' . MINISTER TO CONFER -WITH GROWERS. ■'■ ■ The Hon. W. D. S; Mac Donald. who ■ ( left for the south last night, will meet representatives of the.potato growers at t Christohurch-to-day to hear their protest ? against the prohibition of the export of <- potatoes except .by lioensb. The ngricul- ? tural districts aroimd Christohurch nro- . duce large quantities of potatoes. The Minister remarked to a< Dominion reporter yesterday that ho thought the growers were complaining too soon. Tho ■ Government had not absolutely prohibited export. It had only prohibited export without permit, in order that the local consumer might receive a fair measure' of protection. A deputation from the Now Zealand' Termors' Union executive waited upon the Board of Trade at Auckland regarding tho «mbargo_ on exportation-of pota'toes. The chairman of the. executive '•' of the Fanners' Union placed the pro- •- ducora*. point of, view before the board. He claimed the right for farmers to have open markets for their produce now .that hostilities had ceased. Mr. Mac Donald, chairman of the Board of Trade, dis- .. .claimed any responsibility on the part ' ... of that body for tho. export of potatoes being prohibited. He.said the embargo was imposed on the recommendation .of. the Director-General of Agriculture. Mr. Mac Donald .promised to recommend-to the . Government, that producers should be consulted before embargo on the export of pToduco was imposed.