SUPERPHOSPHATES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 90, 9 January 1918, Page 8

SUPERPHOSPHATES

THE AUSTRALIAN EXPORT EMBABGO. .

It was recently reported in the Do- ' minion that the Commonwealth Gov- ■: eminent had prohibited the export of superphosphates from Australia. In ;.',, view of the fact that New Zealand merchants have on order largo quantities "which are urgently wanted in the Dominion, the news of the reported prohibition,'was .received with considerable - alarm among the agricultural commun-* ": ity. • The Prime Minister at onco cabled to the Commonwealth Govern- .. Mont urging the removal of the em-' .1 Ijargo so far as New Zealand was concerned, or that at any rate supplies ■ already contracted for might be allowed to be shipped. Mr. Massey has • now been advised by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth that permits to export superphosphates were withheld pending an inquiry as to local requirements, but instructions have stib- .'. sequently been issued that pending a .--■ definite decision shipments were to be -■•'■ allowed to be sent to New Zealand in ■-- order to fulfil already existing contracts until February 28. • The Southland County- had 882,291 ■ acres under cultivation in the season "" 1916-17. This was easily the largest "."■ cultivated area of any county. The County of Ashburton came second with ..'' 664,510 acres. The County of J'iord, ..[, in the Southland Land District, fmish- ... Ed up the list with 10 acres (in crass). •■■ The Dominion's total cultivated area -• was 17,064,797.