West Coast Farmers’ Lime Producing Co., Ltd.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1925, Page 1

West Coast Farmers’ Lime Producing Co., Ltd.

THK SKCKKTARY ON TOUR. I left I loss on Tuesday, April 7th, with tlm intention of visiting various lime works in Canterbury and Otago hoping to gain first-hand information which would result in improved methods of handling lime on the Coast. I found that a half of the world does not know how the other half exists. In many eases proprietors of lime works and secretaries ol various branches of Fanners' Unions did not know or took no notice of the railway commission's report re tlm discontinuance of free carriage of lime up to Hui miles to bona. I lido fanners. In every case I asked,

'Winn are you doing to protest against, he threatened withdrawal of this eon■ession. The reply invariably was,

" Nothing.” When I told them that already the commission recommendation re the removal of the Greymouth workshops to Addington had been carried out they began to see that if they did not. in their own interests at least protest they could not Maine the Depart ment for withdrawing this concession. When in (tore I interviewed the Secretary and I’residenL of the Farmer:-.’ Union, and thev invited me In speak at a meeting of the Provincial Executive al (tore on the following Saturday. A full report appeared in the "Tillies’' and the enclosed local: "The threatened withdrawal by the Railway Department of a concession which has long been enjoyed by the

arming community in the free carriage if lime was referred to at the Rrovin•ial Fxecutivo of the New Xcnalnd Farners - Union in Invercargill on Saturiay morning when Mr .John .Murdoch, if Ross, who was formerly a resilient of live reargil I attended the meeting and uggested that the Union should emer

protest against such notion on the ■art of the Railway authorities. Mr ilurdoch mentioned it was not geuerlly understood tlml the recent Railray Commission had recommended the .ithdrawal of such a concession and

the farmers in their own interests should not allow ii to he taken away without a protest being made. The Kxeeiitive decided lo refer the matter to the I’rovincial Conference next month for consideration and in the mcantiiii'.' to notify the Dominion executive in Wellington to watch their interests. They also passed a recommendation that every farmer should support the railways in all reasonable ways he ran when sending ids products to market.".

Tile various lime works between Invercargill and Christchurch were visited during the A weeks of my trip. One company during the last two years had spent LSI 1,0110 on new plant, and mini her had spelt I CJA.OIIo mi improvements during the preceding two years. At all the lime works visited one was

struck with tin- preponderance u! orders for carbonate of lime used in topdressing old pasture. This is where much of our West Coast lands could he improved by a liberal use of carbonate if only our farmers could he induced to try it. Some certainly know the value of it I >111 when a 0-lmi truck of carbonate ran he bought lor C 7 IA - the wonder is that more ol our larniers do not use it more liberally. Carbonate of lime lasts 7 years in the soil, burnt lime years, but where one wants to cron by all means use the burnt lime as it gives quicker results-. One ol the earhonaie works vi-ited was driven hv a Hill-horse power motor and can turn out in tons per hour. The crusher driven by a litj-hor.se power motor can digest (if) tolls of stone per hear. The "Kustoii ” steam shovel was seen at work doing the work of twenty linn. Wla-ii in ( lirisicliiir. il I visited i lie I ill 1 1 1' r Timber Company at Addington and -aw one of tlm 1-ton F.W.D. lorri.-s like the one we have ordered for the Lillie Coy. The shareholders owe a great deal io the Chaim,mi of Directors for ihc interest he has shown in the past in everything that tends io the betterment of the Lime 'Company. This lorry would in the usual way have mist us upwards of Cl.tflHl luit Mr Win iint lei* lias saved it, a considerable amount, oil this deal. I am quite sure I ha l shareholders appreciate vital mir Chairman ha- done and will agree that

lie is one who i.s trying to leave the world better than he found it. During the month of June we intend lo overhaul the plant and make some

more improvements. We want to he able to turn out GO tons of earhonaie and 10 tons of burnt lime per week, all we need to do so. is to get regular orders from, farmers so that we can deliver the goods.