TRADE IN POTATOES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 258, 28 September 1940, Page 4

TRADE IN POTATOES.

SHIPMENTS TO AUSTRALIA

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 27. Another shipment ol approximately 1000 lons of potatoes was sent from Lyttelton to Sydney this week. This comp.ctes the Lyttelton" quota under the arrangement reached some months ago to export oCOd tons to Australia this season. The _final shipment of approximately 600 tons will be from Timaru early next month. New Zealand potatoes are selling in Sydney now at £l3 a ton, and on this price the Government should be clearing between £2 and £3 a ton, where it was more or less onlybreaking even on the earlier shipments. A successful conclusion to the negotiations with the Federal Government for further shipments is still hoped for, though prices for Australian potatoes, which now range up to - £ls 10s a ton, have gone higher in other seasons without the Federal Government considering it-necessary to lift the embargo on imports from /New Zealand. It does seem, however, on information available that prices in Australia this season would be higher than they are if it were not for control being exercised over them. In the meantime the local market is in a peculiar position. There is still a substantial surplus ot potatoes and very few are required, but buyers who have been making inquiries have found that if they want potatoes they have to pay a higher price than that which has been ruling for some time. Growers have reached the stage where they arc not prepaicd to bother with their potatoes unless a reasonably payable price is obtainable. There is not a great deal of activity in tlio seeds market, and prices show little change. There is little demand for I chaff, inquiry being received only for odd I trucks, and the price remains about £5 a ton. \