NEW POTATOES

Evening Star, Issue 24289, 2 September 1942, Page 4

NEW POTATOES

PRIDE ORDER ISSUED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 1, The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, announced to-day that the Price Tribunal, on his recommendation and with the approval of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, had issued a price order covering the sale and purchase of new potatoes. At the present time, the Minister said, .the price for very early potatoes had undoubtedly reached an excessively high level, and it had therefore been decided that some action should bo taken in the interests of the consumers. In addition, the present high prices were encouraging some growers to dig potatoes in an obviously immature condition. The order became operative to-day. The prices of potatoes grown in the North Island or Nelson province are fixed at £35 minimum to £42 10s maximum, f.o.’b., s.i., and for the remainder of the South Island at £4O minimum and £47 10s maximum. Provision is made_ for the fixation of intermediary margins, with a maximum retail price of 7d in respect of potatoes grown in the North Island and Nelson and 7Jd for those grown in the remainder of the South Island.