THE POTATO MARKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 318, 18 June 1915, Page 5

THE POTATO MARKET.

HEAVY AUSTRAMAX OTIDEP.B. OONCKUX IX XBW ZEALAXID. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. During tlie last week or two, heavy orders for potatoes have 'been reselling Xew Zealand from Australia, and the drain upon the Dominion'* supplies has hegun to exeite alarm jn the local market, where prices have risen sharply since the beginning of May. Appnrcntly, there is a shortage of potatoes in the Commonwealth. The price in Melbourne at the beginning of May was £i to £i 10a a ton, but the message •,ntlbli«hed early in the present week gave the ruling rate in the Victorian capital a,s £G 10s to £7, and, apparently, there has been a further rise within the last day or two. The Australian tariff places a duty of £1 a ton on potatoes, and the freight charges are fairly heavy, but it is evident that the Commonwealth is tending to deplete the Xcw Zealand market, and impose a new burden upon local consumers. The matter was brought under tlic notice of the Prime Minister to-day, and Mr. Massey informed a press reprcsentativo that he had taken steps to .secure all the available information regarding the condition of the potato market. The Government had been given ample power to 'prevent the depletion of food stocks at the present juncture, and he realised that, while Xew Zealand Would be glad to' serve Australia up to a certain point, the rights of the local public had to he protected. The people of the Dominion must not be asked to pay famine prices for potatoes. "T cannot allow this country to ue left short of potatoes," said the Prime "Minister. "If the heavy purchases of the last few days on Australian orders are ■ ontinued. I may'have to prohibit the export of potatoes. I have asked the Agricultural Department for particulars as to the quantities to be available in this country, but I am afraid that exact statistic- bearing upon tho point are not oWainaTile, Hie records. showing merely the area planted. Tlowever, (he matter is going to have nttention at once.'*