EMBARGO ON POTATO EXPORTS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 458, 18 March 1919, Page 2

EMBARGO ON POTATO EXPORTS

Board of Trade Enquiry

FARMERS' UNION ACTIVE

As the result of numerous protests by the Farmers' Union against the action of the Government in placing an embargo on the exportation of potatoes at a time whefl the supply exceeded the demand, the Franklin sub - provincitl district executive of the Farmers' Union by invitation met the Board of Trade in the ministerial rooms at Auckland on Friday last. Messrs E T Frost, J Glasgow, E Piggott, L. Morgan, L. J. Bayly and 8 Oldfield represented the Executive and local growers, while Messrs J. Bod lie and Mr W. Huey were present on behalf of the Provincial Executive The B mrd of Trade con sistedof Messrs. W. G. McDonald (chairman), P. Hally and J. W. Collins, secretary. Mr McDonald on receiving the deputation, stated that the B_ard of Trade was in no way responsible for the prssent embargo. They were opposed, he said, to the principle of any interference with trade, unless absolutely necessary. The present embargo on the export of potatoes was placed, he added, by the Director General of the Agricultural Division (Mr 0. J. Reakes). Mr McDonald further assured the deputation that the Board of Trade were particularly anxious to conserve the interests of the primary producer but were opposed to any effort on the part of the Trusts to exploit the public. Tne deputation submitted the following figures (as prepared by ilr James O'Connor, one of the leading Pukekohn growers') to show that the actual cost of growing potatoes was between £SO and £56 per acre, viz : -Rent of land, 5 per cent on £IOO, £5; three ploughings, los, £2 oa; discing and harrowing, £1 10s; planting seed and sowing manure, 3 men at 10d each, £l 10s; cutting seed, 15s; cartiug manure, 6s; manure, 15cwt at 15s, £ll ss; seed, 1-icwt at 103, £7 ; harrowing once more, 3s; scarifying twice, and moulding once, 16a; hoeing, £1; spraying four times at 12s 6d each, £2 10s; digging 7 tons at Is 3d per cwt, £8 158; centals at Is each, twine Is, £7 Is; carting to station, £1 15s; total, £sl lis The deputation urged that the figures, as given, showed that it was not possible at this season of the year to sell potatoes at less than £8 per ton to return any profit. The effect of the embargo on local prices was also fully explained, also the poor keeping quality of the potatoes as compared with Southern sorts. The deputation further claimed that any interference with the potato trade by the Government would shake the confidence of the growers, who, in many oases, experienced a loss on the season's work. This want of confidence, they maintained, would have a bad effect on subsequent production. They, therefore, requested an immediate removal of the em-1

bargo, and an assurance that theru would be no further restrictions. Mr McDonald said that the { bargo could not bo removed befw the 24th instant, which, he thought!, would be too late for this season. He, however, assured the deputation that no future embargo would be placed on potatoes unless tho price was first fixed. In dealing with the exp >rt of hid9B, Mr McDonald stated that thi prohibition was only partial. The position was that hides hid t> bo first offered to the tanners at a fixe 1 price. If, however, the tanners, refused to buy, a permit for exportation would be graated. The object of this embargo, he said, was to prevent hides pissing through neutral channels to enemv countries.