THE POTATO BAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 8

THE POTATO BAN

’ REMOVAL SHORTLY 1 FEDERAL PROPOSAL SYDNEY. Feb. 28. Thn Sydney Morning Herald says I that unless there is an immediate and substantial fall in the price of Aus-tralian-grown potatoes, it is practiclally certain that, the Federal Cabinet |wiil decide to lift the embargo on the importation of Zealand potatoes within the next two weeks. I After Cabinet had discussed the | proposal yesterday it. was revealed that a tentative plan to raise the embargo under conditions which would reasonably safeguard the Tasmanian growers had been prepared. Cabinet has not adopted this plan, but the discussions have made it clear that a majority of Ministers support it. The plan prepared, it is understood, would admit a quota of New Zealand potatoes sufficient to meet all shortages of local supply as long as fhr • Australian price remains above a level to he fixed probably somewhere I between £l5 and £2O a ion. The con- ' cession will operate purely as a tem- | porary emergency measure, and tho i ban will be reimposed as soon as | Australian supplies become normal.

WOMEN TO BE HEARD

OPPOSITION TO EMBARGO SYDNEY, Feb. 27. The Federal _ Cabinet to-morrow will hear representations from the Housewives’ Association for the removal of the embargo on New Zealand potatoes. It is understood that Cabinet will make no announcement, on the subject until the potato section of the Australian Agricultural Council has had an opportunity tn place the producers’ case before the Government.

NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION AT WELLINGTON

[ Per Preet Association.} WELLINGTON, Feb. 28. No official information of the proposed temporary removal of the embargo on the importation of New Zealand potatoes into Australia has been received by the New Zealand Government up to the time the Primn Minister, Hon. M. J. Savage, left his office at Parliament Buildings eariy this evening. "There seems something very indefinite about, it,” said Mr. Savage, when his attention was drawn to a cable message from Sydney containing a newspaper forecast of the Federal Cabinet's proposal. "I was livling in hopes of the time when we would see something definite and lasting in trading relations between Australia and New Zealand,” he said.