POTATO SHIPMENT

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 15

POTATO SHIPMENT

GOOD PRWIT FOR GOVERNMENT [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH; September 27. Another shipment of approximate!}- 1,000 tons of potatoes was sent from Lyttelton to Sydney this week. This compleJ.es the Lyttelton quota under the arrangement reached some months ago to export 5,000 tons to Australia this season; The final shipment of approximately 600 tons will be from Timaru early next month. New Zealand potatoes are selling in Sydney now at £l3 a ton, and on this price the Government should be clearing between £2 and £3 a ton, where it was more or less only breaking even on the earlier shipments. The successful conclusion of negotiations with the Federal Government for further shipments is still hoped for, although prices for Australian potatoes, which now range up to £ls 10s a ton, have gone higher in other seasons without the Federal Government considering it necessary to lift the embargo on imports from New Zealand. It does seem, however. on the information available, that prices in Australia this season would be higher than they are if it were not for control being exercised over them. In the meantime, the local market is in a peculiar position. There is still a substantial surplus of potatoes and very few are required, but buyers who have been making inquiries found that if they want potatoes they have to pay a higher price than that which has been' ruling fpr some time. Growers have reached the stage where they are not prepared to bother with their potatoes unless a reasonably payable price is obtainable. There is not a great deal of activity in the seeds market, and prices show little change. There is little demand for chaff, inquiry being received for only odd trucks, and the price remains round £5 a ton.