COST OF FERTILISERS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 55, 29 November 1926, Page 6

COST OF FERTILISERS

SMALL REDUCTIONS NOTIFIED.

To a request from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union that Hie Minister ot Agriculture should make an inquiry into the cost of fertilisers, Hie Hon. O. J. Ilawken has replied as follows:— "I bog to inform you that this question was recently; the subject of discussion and negotiation with the manufacturers, merchants and others engaged in the handling of fertilisers, as a result of which a small reduction in price was agreed to by the inanutactuiers, while the Government on its part authorised a reduction in railway freights of 40 per cent, for full truck loads (either to one consignee or to more if all take delivery at the same station), and 25 per cent, for smaller consignments. “Insofar as the manufacturers are concerned, it is only right that I should point out that owing to shipping difficulties at Nauru and Ocean Islands last season the British Phosphate Commission, in order to meet Dominion requirements, had to purchase rock from outside sources at higher rates than those charged for Nauru rock, but in order to stabilise Hie c.i.f. price have arranger! that Hie extra cost should be spread over this season’s deliveries. is extra charge is equivalent. Io ks. per ton, which is being absorlvcd by the merchants, who have also had to meet small increases in other directions in the cost of production.’’