FARMERS’ PROTEST

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 11

FARMERS’ PROTEST

Dearer Manure In N.S.W. (N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright! SYDNEY, June 7. The rise in the price of superphosphate could cost New South Wales primary producers more than 3 million dollars, Mr A. R. Johnston, general secretary of the United Fanners and Woolgrowers’ Association of New South Wales, said yesterday. He was commenting on the increase of 2 dollars 50 cents a ton to 20 dollars announced by the British Phosphate Commission.

Mr Johnston said that the increase came at a most inopportune time for most of the primary producers in New South Wales. He said his association would seek immediate consultations with the manufacturers to ask how they justified the price increase. The association would also approach the Federal Government for a review of the bounty now paid to farmers to subsidise the cost of superphosphate. Mr Johnston said the primary producer would bear the cost of the increase, and he could not forecast any rise in the prices of primary products.

“The average area to be fertilised for wheat in New South Wales is about 400 acres,” he said. “If the season is good, between 800,000 and 1,000,000 tons of superphosphate will be used in New South Wales.”