Householders In Quest of Potatoes Have a Lean Time

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1942, Page 2

Householders In Quest of Potatoes Have a Lean Time

Substantial frozen stocks held by merchants. Taranaki householders in quest of potatoes are having a lean time. Because his own grocer had none a New Plymouth man visited two others and three greengrocers. But he got no potatoes. The food controller's recent freezing order applies to merchants only. Retailers may sell stocks in hand, but the trouble with many of them is that they have no stocks. Those who have are eking them out by unofficial rationing in small lots. Stocks are dwindling, however, and they cannot be replenished. Some early potatoes are said to have been offered in a New Plymouth shop the other day for ls lOd a lb. Kestaurants are finding things difficult, too. A man who order ed steak and eggs found they were accompanied by *ve chips. He accepted the situation bravely. "I don't like chips, anyway," he commented afterwards.

Hospitals' Requircments. Merchants' stocks of potatoes in Taranaki are said to be substantial. They cannot be used until the food controller gives a direction, but it was stated at New Plymouth yesterday that after army priorities had been filled hospitals showing good reasons could apply for a permit to replenish supplies; As far as the general public is concerned a merchant thought the filling of its needs would probably have to wait until the new season's potatoes were on the market. Mr. R. Masters, Stratford, president of the Taranaki Master Grocers' Association, would not hazard a guess yesterday when asked what quantity of potatoes in the aggregate is held by grocers of the province, but he said it was probably very small. Retailers who received supplies under contract just before the freezing order was issued should .have fair quantities, it was "stated. All such 'contracts were wiped out by the freezing order. As a result of household economy, combined with rationing by retailers, Mr, Masters suggested supplies should , be eked out fairly well. The new crop at Pukekohe promised to be fairly gooii, he said, and it should be available not. later than the middle of October. It was generally available about the beginning of that month in a good season.