GLUT AFTER FAMINE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 March 1939, Page 6

GLUT AFTER FAMINE.

JJNTIL recently the Australian potato embargo was regarded as one part of a trans-Tasman contest in which New Zealand potatoes were played off to some extent against Australian citrus fruits. Events of the last clay or two, however—particularly an all-time record shipment of Tasmanian potatoes to the Australian mainland States, following immediately upon the existence of an alleged potato famine—suggest that the only real contest is an all-Australian affair, which must be fought out between consumers and producers in the Commonwealth. Attempts by the Tasmanian potato growers to account for their market transformation tactics are in themselves entirely unconvincing. No amount of “rain in the past month’’ will'explain satisfactorily the sudden glutting of a potato market that was declared a few days ago to be almost, empty of supplies. The essentia] fact established is that potatoes which were being held back are now being pushed forward.

Tlie aim of the Tasmanian growers no doubt is to convince New Zealand producers that any potatoes they send to Australia will always arrive upon a glutted market. At the moment this is indicated convincingly. In these circumstances, New Zealand exporters of potatoes have little to gain and may have a good deal to lose. They may he im'pelled to the conclusion tlufl the trade is not worth bothering about. If they are, the Australian potato market no doubt will ’harden again rapidly New Zealanders evidently cannot hope to counter the tactics of the Tasmanians. In the extent to which the situation needs straightening out, the task of straightening it out must devolve upon the people of Australia. Meantime it has to be admitted that where the exclusion of imports is concerned, private enterprise in Australia, or at all events in Tasmania, is definitely outclassing State enterprise in New Zealand.