GLUT OF POTATOES IN SYDNEY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 9

GLUT OF POTATOES IN SYDNEY

Tasmanian Growers Flood Market

SINISTER MOTIVE SUGGESTED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. SYDNEY, March 13. Shipments of potatoes from Tasmania to the mainland States last week amounted to 50,000 sacks, a record amount. The “Daily News” (formerly the “Labour Daily”) publishes comments by Mr. R. B. Walker. M.L.A., and Sir Frederick Stewart, M.P., who attended the recent protest meeting against the continuuation of the embargo against New Zealand potatoes. .Mr. Walker says that the Tasmanian growers have been hiding millions of potatoes in underground pits to keep Sydney prices famine-high and now I hey have flooded the market to choke New Zealand growers out. Mi-. Stewart says: “There is something sinister about this potato glut in Sydney. If this business angers the New Zealand Government it will do our citrus men a lot of harm.” The Burnie correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald” says: “While one reason for the record deliveries was tlie desire of farmers to market supplies before New Zealand potatoes were admitted, there has been a remarkable change in the crop prospects as a result of rain in the past month. “Several traders expressed the view that the relaxation of the embargo on New Zealand potatoes lias come too late and that Australia now has sufficient supplies."

FALL IN PRICE OF POTATOES Charge Against Tasmanian Growers Denied (Received March 13, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 13. The wholesale price of the best potatoes was reduced by £6/10/- a ton in Sydney today to £l6. A representative of the Tasmanian Potato Board in Sydney today denied the statement that Tasmanian growers had flooded the market with the object of choking out New Zealand growers.

He said that the chief cause of the heavy shipment had been the heavy rains, which had forced growers to dig their crops so as to avoid losing them.