POTATO GROWERS’ DEMAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1924, Page 1

POTATO GROWERS’ DEMAND.

THE RECENT DEMAND. HON. W. XOSWOKTHY IN REPLY. WELLINGTON, March 21. The Minister of Agriculture made tho following statement to-day :: I have noted tho report of a meeting of potato growers held in Christchurch. I can say at once that the allegations that the Prime Minister and myself have not done our best in the interests of potato growers and other producers are absolutely and entirely unwarranted. By the way of contrast one of the criticisms latcy levelled at the Government is that it is a farmers’ Government, that farmers’ interests are always placed first by it. The real fact of the matter is that the Government endeavours to act on linos calculated to further the best interests of the Dominion, with due regard to the legitimate claims of various sections of the community. As regards wlmt it has done for the producers of the Dominion I am content to leave the judgment in their hands'. Now as to the potato question. I have been pressed hv some growers to impose an absolute embargo upon the importation of Australian potatoes. But what would that mean!-' it could only mean one of two things, viz., an arbitrary shutting out of Australian potatoes, obviously aimed at entirely eliminating any competition with our own growers, notwithstanding the measure of tariff protection already existing, or else an open retaliatory measure against Australia for prohibiting

the imperialion <>l NV.v Zealand potatoes. lint on this bed. point Australia liases her action on the existence of disease in New Zealand potatoes, whereas the very careful examinations which have been made of Australian potatoes here and inquiries made in Australia have hitherto tailed to elicit anv evidence of disease in Australian potatoes of a nature which would warrant prohibition of import. The Government made strong and repeated elforts to net, the Australian restrictions removed, or nt least modified, hut without success, in spite of the fact that the disease in question (.known as "powdery scalp”) is not a serious one and is not widespread in the Dominion. The action of Australia in this matter does constitute a very serious grievance with growers, for which there is tin don h ted justification. I do not blame potato growers lor asking that we should shut out Australian potatoes altogether, hut the Government has to take a broad view of the question, it must he remembered that in one way or another Australia takes a good deal of our primary produce. To give two or three instances: "Within the last year or so our languishing export beef market was relieved by the exportation of n large number of Jat cattle to Alcl bo niu e. flutter has been shipped across. Practically the whole of our surplus hams and bacon have found it good market there. I t must be remembered that when it tomes to retaliation it can be made to cut both ways. The only proper course to adopt is to act on sound lines, compatible with maintenance of good relations with a neighbouring country with which we have in operation a reciprocal tariff treaty. To now impose an absolute embargo upon Australian potatoes would be unsound and I do not intend to do it. The Christchurch meeting resolved that the present duty of AT per ton should he increased to A‘3 per ton. Whether this can be done must be left to Parliament to decide. I will be quite prepared to place the position before Parliament. It is true that a special duty can be imposed under conditions of special emergency, but even if that were intended to be done our tariff agreement with Australia would necessitate the giving of six months’ notice before hand. 1 have been making inquiries into the position and so far as f can gather the lowest price at which Australian potatoes are being landed is equivalent to a value of about £fi 5s per ton f.o.b. Lyttelton for New Zealand potatoes. This Australian price is for prompt shipments only. Apparently forward shipments are quo.ted at a higher rate. Other shipments have cost more. The latest quotation I have been able to hear indicates an increased price for prompt shipment. Very little business is being done between Wellington aiul Australia. It seems probable that the New Zealand crop will shortly have the whole Dominion market practically to itself. This is what it looks like. So far as the Australian prohibition of New Zealand potatoes is concerned another attempt is being made to get it removed or modified. A responsible officer of the Department, who is leaving next week for Australia, will go fully into the whole question with the authorities there. I sincerely hope that this effort will be successful.