FERTILISERS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1927, Page 1

FERTILISERS

A COMPREHENSIVE BILL. WELLINGTON, Sept. SO. •• This Hill makes clearer to the farmer what fertiliser lie is buying,” explained the Hon. 0. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, when a Fertilisers Bill was introduced in the House today by Governor-General’s message. The Government, he added, did not propose to make any charge except for analysis, which it might he asked to undertake. The Bill would require sellers to disclose the proportion of filler in the manure, ai'so the form in which the fertilising agent occurred. Sir Joseph Ward remarked that while it was quite right that those who imported fertilisers should sell only what they represented, it was important to know where the analysis would take place, whether the point of shipment or on arrival in New Zealand. Importers tried to sell a good article, hut no company would take the risk of bringing in manures if the examination took place in New ZeaVand and the cargo was then condemned. The Hon. O. J. Hawken explained that samples would be taken in Eng- 1 land and posted out. This would make the position of the importer quite safe.

Sir Joseph Ward repeated that from the practical point of view this was not suitable. A parcel post sample was not sufficient. Importers did not make sufficient from manures to take any such risks, therefore he hoped the Bill would bo very carefully considered before being passed. The Bill was rend a first time formally. It makes provision for the registration of vendors of fertilisers and registration of brands. In the case of all fertilisers sold the details are to he given to the Director-General of Agriculture, including full analysis, degree of grinding and nature and percentage of filler. Where special mixtures are made to order no registration of brand is needed. Sales in bulk will be permitted if notice is given to an in-: spector under the Act two days prior to delivery and a. complete record is kept of such sales. False entries in a sales register involve a fine of £SO. ‘.ln tho sale of a fertiliser the vendor is required to render with the invoice a full statement of its nature. The details specified in the Bill are very comprehensive, and it is provided that sale implies a warranty that the statements in the invoices are true in substance and in fact. Samples of fertilisers are to be sent to the Government chemist on request, and inspectors have power to take samples, the method followed being similar to that under other statutes dealing with adulteration. Purchasers of fertilisers may, on payment of a fee, secure the services of an inspector to take samples for analysis. The vendor is to be notified, and if the analysis shows no material difference between sample and invoice specification the vendor may recover from the - purchaser reasonable expenses incurred in attending tile taker of the sample. Where fertiliser is imported by bodies of persons and not for sale particulars are to be submitted to the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, together with an adequate sample. The penalty for false representation is a maximum of £SO, while the general penalty for other breaches of the Act is £lO. The Director-General of Agriculture is authorised to publish the results of any analysis or of experiments made with any fertiliser sold in New Zealand. Provision is made for a remedy hv a vendor against any prior vendor in respect of penalities incurred; if he proves that tho fertiliser in question was sold under certificate, and that he was unaware that it was 1 otherwise than as stated. *