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Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1931, Page 4

An amplification of the Government’s scheme to provide cheaper fertilisers to farmers so that production can be maintained at ft lower overhead cost was given by the Mim-i-ter of Agriculture, Hon. D. Jones., in ft statement. He -said the manufacturers would make a substantial concession to supplement the ‘Government’s action, and from next Monday the cash price on trucks at works in the North Island and at free delivery points an the South Is-, land would be reduced to £3 17s 6cl a ton. The question will he reviewed next -June. The great reduction in the amount of fertilisers used in the Dominion of late, resulting from the decreased buying powers of the farmers, causjii-g the. Government grave concern. .The welfare of the whole community is so entirely dependent upon our export tyade in primary products that it is necessary that no effort ho spared, not only to maintain the volume of output, but also to increase it as much as passible, and in kins connection fertilisers play a most important part. While the use of fertilisers for top-dressing is increasing among sheep farmers, by far the greater proportion used in Dominion is for the purpose of top-dressing pastures on dairy farms, the necessity for this being increased by the intensive nature of the dairy farming carried out in many districts. Tljc- marked reduction in the amount of top-dressing which has taken place creates a grave risk of a quick falling off of dairy production particularly, which will be rapidly accentuated as time goes on unless a reversion to adequate fertilising .is brought about. With a full appreciation of this, the Government has decided to set aside £1(X),000 for the purpose of providing a subsidy upon the selling price of high grade superphosphate ap in the effort to get production to as high a'level as possible, phosphntie fertilisers are most- essential. All our superphosphate K manufactured from phosphate rock supplied from deposits in which the Dominion lias a large financial interest, and due regard has been given to this when considering the subsidy proposed. Consideration was also given to phosplintic fertilisers and others of overseas origin, but after carefully weighing all the facts it was decided to limit the subsidy to 44/46 per cent. superphosphate.