The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, August 6, 1891. EXPORT OF POTATOES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 643, 6 August 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, August 6, 1891. EXPORT OF POTATOES.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country's, Thy God’s, and truth's.

For some months past experiments have been carried on ih the way of exporting potatoes from New Zealand to England. Had these experiments proved successful it would have been a matter of great importance to the colony. The growth of potatoes necessitates the employment of a good deal of labor, and if satisfactory outside markets could be obtained for them it would mean a substantial gain to the colony. Mr Cunningham, of Christchurch, has made experimental shipments to England totalling 150 tons, but his returns do not justify the hope that a vast new market would soon be available. In the House of Representatives on Friday the Hon. J. McKenzie read the following telegram he had received from Mr Cunningham :—“ I am this morning in receipt of a cable from Berry, Barclay and Co., London, regarding a shipment of potatoes made by me with the view of ascertaining practically what the result would be of shipping potatoes to London. The result is unsatisfactory. The cable is as follows :—“ Potatoes have arrived in fairly good condition, but will not net you, after paying freight and all expenses on this side, more than 22s 6d per ton.” Whether this includes price of sacks I cannot make out from the cable. If it means 22s fid without sacks the loss will be about 7s 6d per ton on the market price at the time of shipment. If sacks are included the loss would be 13s per ton, although I only paid 20s per ton for them at country stations, so that it is quite evident we cannot hope to get any profitable market for shipping potatoes to England. The many thousand tons that are still in the country induced me to make this experiment, but I hardly recommend anyone to follow my example. The total shipments I have made amount to about 150 tons. I sent them in three steamers, and had them stowed in parts of the hold where they ought to carry fairly well. There is so much interest taken in the North and South in reference to this matter that I think it would be advisable if you could make this information public.” Credit is due to Mr Cunningham for the enterprise he has shown in this matter. The loss, however, is not a very large one, and when the mail ■arrives there may be some further information to account for it. The cablegram states that the potatoes arrived in fairly good condition. One of the most important things to be ascertained is whether it is possible to get the shipments of potatoes in London in good condition. If that can be done the produce must take its chance in the fluctuations of the market. The results will have a temporary check on the making of experimental shipments, but in the course of time difficulties that have now to be overcome will probably be cleared away, and in a few years the experimental stage may be outdistanced and a good market be rendered available. If this were SO in regard to the growth of potatoes much additional labor would soon be required in that pursuit