POTATOES FOR SEED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20877, 1 September 1942, Page 5

POTATOES FOR SEED

FLOOD OF APPLICANTS GROWERS IN GISBORNE HOME GARDEN PLOTS A flood of applications for permission. to purchase seed potatoes is being received by Gisborne merchants and seedsmen, while members of the police force, who are authorised to countersign applications, have become suddenly very busy. Committees to allocate the distribution of potatoes have been formed, and an endeavour is being made to deal with the applications as soon as ■possible. A statement on the position was made by the chairman ot the Gisborne allocating committee, Mr. G. W. Armstrong, to-day. . “Apart from the absence of potatoes for table purposes, with, the planting season at hand, it is only to be expected,” Mr. Armstrong said, . that concern should be frankly expressed by all .prospective growers regarding the apparent impossibility of obtaining . immediate , delivery .of their requirements of seed. While the position is undoubtedly serious,, the steps taken by the Government to deal with, the situation immediately a Dominion shortage of both table and ‘seed potatoes became apparent should go a long way to ensure at a comparatively early date a return to more normal conditions of supply. “If a recurrence of the present acute shortage is to be avoided, it is obviqus that the first essential is the building up of production ,to a point, where it can be considered reasonably adequate to meet the enormously increased demands imposed by existing war conditions. This, of course, can only be accomplished if sufficient seed is Available to plant the additional acreage'obtained ps-a result of the appeal £bL’.'ari:' drier,ease iih production of this essential commodity. Allocation of Supplies . “With this end in view the allocation of remaining Dominion stocks is Joeing proceeded With as rapidly as possible, and growers of one acre or more should receive notification Jhrdugh their respective merchants at.an early date as to the arrangements that have been made for the Supply of their requirements. ; “Although commercial areas naturally take precedence, the importance of home garden production in relation to consumption is fully appreciated And, as recently notified, the Ministry of Supply, i is prepared to receive wider certain conditions bona fide applications for. seed ,from home gardeners. These applications should be- handed to the customer's usual seedsman, storekeeper, or merchant, As. the case may be,, who in turn will make application under the terms of existing regulations. . . ~ .“Although at it is .impossible to .state,; whether the. requirements.,of home gardeners can be executed in part or in .full, it is pbviously the wish of the Government to meet the needs of , home gardeners in so far as available supplies make this possible. On this account it is essential that applications ,be lodged, as advertised,, prior to September 5. Although the present potato shortage Has no, doubt produced a good deal of loose talk, there is not the slightest doubt that the shortage is d perfectly genuine one arid, that the. steps , that are. being taken, jo meet the .position are the best that can be devised under the circumstances.!'-: uah-KW'-c