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Levin Daily Chronicle, 13 April 1918, Page 4

Some time ago the "American Exporter '' stated that a great American firm, had performed the extraordinary feat of turning out 500 submarine chasers in a little under 500 days. Mr W. Lock who had occasion to make a business inquiry from this firm (says the Nelson "Evening Mail")* took the opportunity of congratulating them on its splendid achievement. The firm is evidently a bit "Scotch," for the reply of the manager is as follows: —"Many thanks for your personal congrat.ulaifions on our doing our bit in connection with supplying and equipping submarine chasers. If the Scotchmen in America had had their way three years ago this country would have been bearing its share of the burden in making the world safe for democracy. New Zealand has done bravely—Watch the American boys! Yours for the right, Jas. Hossack, of Aberdeen, Scotland." The following was printed at the foot of another letter received from Chicago: "Let us all do our part to win the war; let us bear patiently and patriotically the added taxes and contribute generously to the cause in any way we can. And if we think the Government makes a mistake in their management now and then, in place of railing at those in authority let us first examine ourselves, and we will find that neither are infallible. '' The potato market in Auckland is at present very high. At the end of last week prices were ranging from £9 to £10 per ton, and as the supplies are still very limited it is anticipated that prices may become even firmer. Beferring to the price of £4 to £4 10s quoted in Christchurch, a local auctioneer stated that that was the selling price at the farms where the crops were grown, and that when port charges, freights, etc., were paid the price would be considerably higher. In regard to the present J shortage, he said that Auckland re- / quired from 5000 to 10,000 sacks per week, while at the present time only a few trucks were available. In his opinion there would be no cheap potatoes this winter, for the Waikato crops were practically done, and shipping space was not available for transportation from the South. "In several instances," he said, "space has been devoted to the carriage of beer in lieu of potatoes. I consider it unfair," he concluded, "that beer should be carried to the exclusion of foodstuffs for the people."