MORE FERTILISERS TO BE RELEASED

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1946, Page 8

MORE FERTILISERS TO BE RELEASED

— Press "Association

By Telegraph

' WELLINGTON, July 1, The Minister of Agriculture said in an interview today that, following strong reprcsentations, tlie Combiued Food Board has allocated to New Zealand an increased tonnage of phosphatie i'ertiliser to be available in the year eommeneing July, .1940. "This news will be appreeiated by the farming eommunity as it will enable a greater quantity of foodstuffs, so urgentlv needed, to be produced in the Doniinion," said Mr. Roberts. - - The position regarding present ferliliser stocks and future supplies was fully discussed recently at a eonferenee of representatives of Federated Farmers, the Meat Produeers ' Board and the New Zealand Dairy Board, together witli otlieials of the Department of Agriculture. The increased tonnage of phosphates which will be available over the next 12 months' overall supplies, will not be up to the quantity used prior to rationing, and for this reason and to distribute most effectively the fertilisers in order to obtain the maximum in food supplies, the eonferenee unanimously deeided to recommend the Government to eontinue fertiliser rationing for the year July 1, 1940, to June 30, 1947. The Government. has agreod to implement this recommendation and also a new basis of allocation as proposed by tlie eonferenee. This will mean the ration of phosphatie fertiliser for topdressing grassland will be increased by 20 per cent., that is, .from 42 per eent. to 50.4 per eent. of the quantity used in the two base years, .Tune 1939, to May 1941, except for a sbght inerease on the present small allocation for orehards. The sehedule of phosphatie alloeations for new grass and farm crops will remain as at present. The appeal procedure on the same basis as last year, whereby farmers can make applieation for additional fertiliser on the grounds of hardship, has been opened until July 18. Returned servicemen can make applieation at any

time duringi the rationing year. Iti both cases applieation is to be made to the chairman! of the fertiliser committee, care of t^e Department of Agricul ture for th$ distriet in which the , applieant resides' i ■. « i . . V ' '