STATE CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20025, 25 August 1939, Page 13

STATE CONTROL

PRICES OF POTATOES ■ POWER OF FIXATION PEAK VALUES PASSED MINISTER’S STATEMENT ( Vi'.r Pri'ss Association.) WELLINGTON, this clay. According to a notice in the Gazette, potatoes now come within the provisions of the Primary Products Marketing Amendment Act, 1937, and henceforth will be under the supervision of the Internal Marketing Division.

Commenting on this position, the acling-Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, said that the Internal Marketing Division, under the Primary Products Marketing Amendment Act, 1937, is empowered to keep a very close check on market prices, and also, where necessary, is enabled to fix maximum and/or minimum prices immediately, and to vary such prices in different parts of New Zealand as the occasion warrants. The procedure that can be followed under this Act is simple, and the Director of Internal Marketing is empowered to carry out the function where it is considered necessary.

It is anticipated that potatoes have now passed their peak in price, and retail values should gradually start to fall. A very complete survey of New Zealand stocks has been made, and the Government has agreed to the importation of the necessary quantities to augment the supply during the period between the end of the old potato season and the advent of the new crop. Accordingly, the first overseas supply will arrive in New Zealand on September 1 and shipments will be arriving periodically thereafter and thus ease the position. The Internal Marketing Division will be contacting interested units of the trade immediately.