NEW POTATOES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 287, 2 September 1942, Page 4

NEW POTATOES

Growers’ Prices Fixed PROTECTION OF PUBLIC A price order covering the sale and purchase of new potatoes has been issued by the Price Tribunal on the recommendation, of the Minister of Industries and Commerce. Au announcement to this effect was made yesterday by the Minister of Marketing, Mr. Barclay. The new Order, which became operative yesterday, fixed the prices to be paid to growers for new potatoes grown in the North Island or in the Nelson Province at £35 a ton minimum and £42/10/- a ton maximum, f.o.r. South Island. For new potatoes grown in the remainder of the South Island, the minimum price is £4O a ton and the maximum £47/10/-, Provision is also made in the Order for the fixation of intermediary margins with a maximum retail price of 7d. a lb. for potatoes grown in the North Island and in Nelson, and 7Jd. a lb. covering potatoes grown in the remainder of the South Island.

The Minister pointed out that when he recently made a statement of Government policy on tiie new season’s potatoes, the tentative arrangement was to allow the price of new potatoes to remain free till October 1. This undertaking was qualified to the extent that the Government would not permit any potatoes to soar to exorbitant prices. At present, due to the entire absence of old season’s potatoes on the 'market, the price for the very early potatoes had undoubtedly reached an excessively high level, aud it was therefore decided that some action should be taken in the interests of consumers. In addition, the present high prices were encouraging some growers to dig potatoes in an obviously immature condition, thus providing the public with potatoes of relatively poor food value and at the same time accentuating the shortage by not allowing these potatoes to remain in the ground till the highest possible yield could be secured.