WITHIN THE DOMINION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 230, 19 June 1915, Page 3

WITHIN THE DOMINION.

N.Z. HOSPITAL. SHIP. FREE CARRIAGE OF GOODS WELLINGTON, June 18. Tne Union Company announces that all gifts for the Hospital Ship will be carried free of charge on that company's vessels on the New 1 Zealand coast. | THE PARKINSON CASE. NAPIER, June 18. Mr B. J. Dolan entered an appeal against the sentence inflicted on Alice May Parkinson for murder at the Supreme Court to-day, on the ground that two police constables and a civilian spoke to the jury during their deliberations. His Honour (Sir Robert Stout) said this did not affect the' validity of the proceeding and the appeal was dismissed. N.Z. POTATOES FOR AUSTRALIA. LOCAL MARKET DEPLETED. PREMIER TO TAKE ACTION. WELLINGTON; June 17.' During the last week or two heavy orders for potatoes have been reaching this country from Australia, and the drain, upon the Dominion's supplies has begun to excite alarm in the local market, where prices have risen sharply snce the beginning of May. The price in Melbourne at the beginning of May was from £4 to £4 1/- per ton, but the message published early in hte present week gave the ruling rate in the Victorian capital as £6 10/- to £7, and apparently there has been a further,(rise within the last day or two. The Australian tariff places a duty of £1 per ton upon potatoes, and the freight charges are fairly heavy, but it is evident that the Commonwealth is tending to deplete the New Zealand market and impose a new burden upon local consumers. .: .

The matter was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister to-day and Mr. Massey informed a representative of the N.Z. Times that he- had taken steps to secure all the available informaion regarding the condition of the potato market. The Government has been given ample power to prevent the depletion of food stocks, at the ptcsent juncture, and he realised t\\p* while New Zealand would be glad to serve Australia up to a certain point, the rights of the local public had to 1 protected. The people of the- Dominion must not be asked to pay. famine prices for potatoes. "I cannot allow this country to be left short of potatoes," said the Prime Minister. "If the heavy purchases of the last few days on Australian orders are continued I may have to prohibit the export of potatoes. I have asker 1 the Agricultural Dept. for particulars as to the quantities to be available in this country, but I am afraid thatexact statistics bearing upon the pointare no obtainable. The records show merely the area planted. However, the matter is going to have attention at once."