GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1939, Page 3

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

CANTERBURY MARKETS. POTATO PRICES FIRMER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. The potato market in Christchurch is still firming, today's quotation to growers being £l6 10s to £l7 a ton, against £l5 10s to £l6 at the beginning of the week. The government’s action in calling for applications for licences to import potatoes does not at this stage seem likely to have any effect on prices for the locally-grown crop. There are a number of difficulties in the way of bringing potatoes into the country and about least of these is finding a source of supply. It is probably too early to obtain potatoes from Canada and California and also from any European countries, and few if any of the cablegrams which merchants sent to Australia yesterday for quotations brought results. If supplies are made available in Australia other difficulties arise. With a duty on potatoes of £2 10s a ton, freight about 33s a ton and primage and other charges, the landed cost of Australian potatoes, which are now about £l7 a ton, would be £2l or £22. In addition, there is a regulation under which all potatoes coming into thccountry must be inspected by Govern,ment officers for disease. Any which are found to be affected may be send back to the country of origin. As merchants were told today in response to inquiries that this regulation could not be relaxed, it is unlikely that many will be found willing to take the risk of bringing potatoes over at the high | cost ruling now. ( Onion-growers, like potato-growers, are still doing well, today’s quotation being £l6 10s a ton. It had been expected that the wintry weather of recent weeks would stimulate the demand for chaff but sellers are still more plentiful than buyers and the quotation remains at £4 5s a ton. The A.ugusf increment of Id a bushel went on to wheat prices this week.