POTATO MARKET

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20914, 20 September 1939, Page 9

POTATO MARKET

FAMINE AVOIDED ARRIVALS FROM OVERSEAS DISCLOSURE OF HOARDING (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday The action of the Government in permitting produce merchants to import potatoes from California and Canada has brought timely relief from what was becoming a desperate situation. Markets were experiencing extremely short supplies for some time, with the result that prices soared to impossible levels. About three weeks ago a small shipment of Californian potatoes arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa, and an immediate drop in prices was experienced throughout New Zealand. With the arrival of a large quantity of Canadian potatoes recently there was a further rush to market for hoarded New Zealand supplies, for which high prices were still being obtained, as the stocks being released were insufficient to meet the demand. Furthermore, whaUXew Zealand potatoes are available are small table quality, and also comparatively small in quantity. Despite the disclosure of hoarded supplies of New Zealand potatoes, merchants are convinced that there would have* been a potato famine had the overseas supplies not been allowed to meet the market until the new seasons production was available.