AUSTRALIAN POTATO FAMINE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20738, 23 February 1939, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN POTATO FAMINE

Australia’s potato famine seems likely to force an effort to end the ridiculous trade position between the two Dominions. Sympathy for the Australian Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, whose constituency is one of the most important potato-growing areas in Tasmania, seems to be worn almost threadbare. That ajl other Australians should have to pay famine prices so that the Prime Minister may continue to enjoy the favour of his constituents is a farcical and unfair position. If Mr Lyons’ party gains in that one electorate it is bound to suffer heavily elsewhere.

Pressure on the Government is increasing and certain Ministers are reported to be forcing a discussion of the mutter by the Federal Cabinet. It is significant that in the recent heated discussion the alleged reason for the embargo in the first place has scarcely been mentioned. The danger of introducing a “deadly disease” has dwindled in importance as the price of potatoes has soared. Even in New Zealand, very little is now heard of the fruit fly that caused the Dominion Government to place an embargo on the importation of citrus fruit from Australia. It seems not unlikely that settlement of the political issue would also provide a prompt cure for the disease in both fruit and potatoes.

Since the embargo on Australian citrus fruit has proved of little value as a bargaining weapon, New Zealand might well set a good example by taking advantage of the cheap fruit offering in Australia to supply a hungry- market in the Dominion. Persistence in the present attitude will not react to the credit of either country. New Zealand is already admitting limited quantities of Australian citrus fruit, but a very desirable and valuable item of the diet is still too strictly limited in quantity and too costly to be used as freely as it could and should be used.