Seed Potatoes

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1942, Page 2

Seed Potatoes

The direct reversal of policy with regard to seed potatoes for private gardeners is unexplained, but is nevertheless welcome. For that matter the complete confusion into which the position of table potatoes /has been allowed to degenerate has not been satisfactorily explained. Lack of foresight obviously has a bearing upon the matter, and the consumers who are suffering from this official shortcoming are undoubtedly determined that, so far as they can provide against it, they will not be caught again. To- a degree, insurance against a repetition of the current potato shortage can be effected by consumers themselves, and by the process of helping themselves by growing potatoes. The dilemma in which homegrowers were thrown by official intimations that they would be unable to obtain seed has been partially resolved by a Ministerial decision. It has been unofficially stated that 500 tons of seed potatoes will now be made available for private gardeners which, on the basis of 281b for each household would mean 40,000 contented gardeners. The process by which a share of this seed may be obtained is outlined in an advertisement in to-day's Daily News. It will appear to many persons that the process is complicated and carries some exceedingly vague provisions. Nevertheless, the home gardener would be well advised to grasp the opportunity that is provided to him to help himself and, since time for making application is very short, immediate consideration - should be given to the matter. The current experience of many house- | holds with regard to potatoes. i should bc cnough to convince citi- ' zens that self-help and . practical_

common sense are atributes that have considerable merit in these uncertain times.