SUPPLIES OF LIME

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 21, 20 October 1942, Page 4

SUPPLIES OF LIME

Compulsory Rationing Not Considered The Department of Agriculture had not considered any compulsory .scheme of lime rationing, stated lite Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Barclay, yesterday in replying to an urgent question by Mr. Boswell (Government, Bay of Islands). In a note to his question, Mr. Boswell said there was an impression among farmers that, because of transport difficulties a 30 per cent, reduction in lime deliveries was under consideration by the Government. Mr. Barclay said' that consequent on meetings of representatives of lime companies and the Departments of Agriculture and Transport held recently, there was an impression among producers that compulsory rationing was to be introduced by the Government. An’attempt to do this would raise extreme difficulties, and in many -cases would not be reasonable in that lime companies in isolated areas might not. require transport for delivery beyond that supplied -by the far,mer himself. At the same time farmers would recognize the (liflieiilties arising from the tyre and petrol position and the unprecedented calls on rolling stock for other purposes. In order that inequalities and difficulties might be overcome to the greatest possible extent, he had asked all primary production councils Io discuss the question of lime distribution and to meet comjiany representatives in their districts and endeavour to smooth out the difficulties being experienced by both companies and farmers. Councils and lime companies should make mutual arrangements in their areas for the distribution of lime on an equitable basis.

Information as to whether the Minister of Transport would make inquiries into the reason why Army lorries were doing work which the Wellington Transport Control Committee had decided would be done by rail was sought in a question of which notice was given by Mr. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty). In a note to his question he stated that.the committee had refused a private carrier permission to cart certain freight, to some works, 'but the same freight had been carted to the same destination by Army lorries.