POTATO IMPORTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20052, 26 September 1939, Page 7

POTATO IMPORTS

PROTESTS IN CANTERBURY SUPPLIES FROM CANADA THREAT OF “BLACK LIST" ATTITUDE OF GROWERS (Por Prpss Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. A strong .feeling has been aroused among potato growers in Canterbury by the action of the Government in allowing Canadian imports to be sold in the South Island. There is a strong movement on foot to declare “black” merchants who are handling the shipment locally and it is understood that the Farmers’ Union will be asked to stand by the local growers. One prominent grower said this morning that, contrary to the general belief, there were hundreds of tons still available in Canterbury, mostly held in small quantities by small growers. This was the class which suffered most from the disastrous glut last season. The merchant said it was estimated that at least 1000 tons ol potatoes remained to be sold in Canterbury. The Canadian imports had forced the price for local potatoes back from £l7 to £l3 a ton and made the growers suffer in consequence. The Canadian potatoes are selling at a price equivalent to the cost of £2l a ton to the buyer. New Zealand potatoes, it is pointed out, never reached this figure this season.