FARMING AFFAIRS

Lake County Mail, Issue 49, 12 May 1948, Page 3

FARMING AFFAIRS

This column is supplied weekly

by Federated Fanners of New Zealand). Tiro information given is

official but any views expressed

are those of the federation and are

not necessarily those of this newspaper.

PHOSPHATE FREIGHTS Representations made by Federated Farmers to the United Kingdom Ministry of Transport for reduced marine freight charges on rock phosphate for New Zealand have not proved successful. The Ministry of Transport has written that it has no power to reduce freight rates which are not subject to direction and so is unable to assist. The letter added that all freights Avere influenced by the time spent by ships in the loading and discharging areas and unfortunately delays in the Makotea-New Zealand trade occurred at both ends.

In its representations, Federated claimed that a major factor limiting the extent to which farm production could be increased in New Zealand was the price of superphosphate, which was £lO 2s per ton ex works to-day, compared with a prewar price of £3 16s per ton ex works. By the time the back country farmer paid transport, packing and spreading costs his total outlay was approximately £ls 12s a ton, with the result that he limited top-dressing, causing a reduction of soil fertility and a reduction in the exportable surpluses of meat and dairy produce.

The increase in marine freight charges of raw phosphate was a heavy item of cost. Before the war, rock was brought to New Zealand at an average freight rate of 11s 6d a ton. To-day the rate was £3 2s 6d to £8 5s a ton, a 457 per cent, increase, even though the rock came from Makotea, which was closer to New Zealand than Nauru Island. The Ministry of Transport was asked to investigate that position with a view to reducing the exorbitant freight rates of to-day. In its reply, the Ministry stated that when it fully controlled shipping the freight rates on all commodities uiider Government purchase or sponsorship were fixed by a Freight Rate Committee which based its rate calculations on the actual running costs of the type of vessel employed having regard to the agreed terms and

Back to Form Congo Song made it two in succession when he won at Auckland on Saturday and he appears to have regained the form he disclosed as a twoi-year-old when he was regarded as the best of his age.

Connaught The winner of the Tinwald Handicap at Ashburton, Connaught, has always displayed plenty of speed but has failed to carry it very far. Her win over a mile on Saturday suggests that she might yet prove useful over a middle distance.

Impressive Performance Arctic Circle put up an impressive performance in the Chatmos Hack Handicap at Ashburton and must rank as one of the best staying hacks in Canterbury at the present time. Change of Stables

Novelda, who gave two inglorious displays at the recent Forbury Park meeting is to join J. B. Pringle’s stable at Addington. She is one of the most brilliant pacers bred in Southland for a long time, and if- she can be induced to leave the mark smoothly she should develop into a good stake winner. Northern Campaign

The young southern trainer, H. I. Herbert will race Dragoman, Hall Ace, Mischievous and First Despatch in Canterbury during the winter months and as all are in good racing trim, he should more than pay his way, especially with Dragoman, who looks on the way to the best class.

Dunedin J.C. Winter Meeting Nominations for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting are due on May 21 and the handicaps will appear on May 26.

Wanaka School Committee

The biennial meeting of the householders was held on Monday, when there was a much better attendance than for

some years. The chairman, Mr S. Faulks, read a lengthy report on his committee’s activities during its term of office, and this revealed a worthy list of improvements to school grounds and equipment. He also referred to the strenuous efforts that had been made to keep the Education Board to its promise of starting the building of the new school. The board’s latest advice was that no start could be expected before March, 1949. The headmaster, Mr L. M. Farrant, then read a very satisfactory report on the school for the previous year. Ten nominations were received for the committee. The new committee elected were: —

Mr S. Faulks (chairman), Mr W. Ironside (secretary), Mr E. Richmond, Mr H. E. Harris, Mr D. Grant. The chairman expressed his appreciation of the services of Mr J. Scurr on the last committee.

conditions of the charter party for that trade. Vessels could then be diverted into scheduled trades on fixed terms of charter and at controlled rates of freight. The position to-day, however, was quite different. Many trades had been freed from direction and among them was phosphate from Makotea to New Zealand. The ships chartered to fill that and other freed programmes were chartered on the open market at the prevailing market rate of freight and being subject to the law of supply and demand, the rate could vary from fixture to fixture. The British Ministry of Transport had, therefore, no power to reduce freight rates which were not subject to direction and there was, in consequence, no way to assist in the matter raised by the Federation.

SOCIAL

ON INCOME The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention to a notice appearing in this issue regarding the Social Security Charge of Is 6d in the £> payable on income other than salary or wages.

Persons liable to pay the charge are required to furnish, not later than May 31, 1948, a declaration of income other than salary or wages derived during the year ended March 31, 1948. The first of the charge thereon is due on May 1 and must be paid within one month of that date, otherwise the 10 per cent, penalty for late payment will accrue.

The declaration forms, which, are available from money order offices and branch offices of the Land and Income Tax Department, contain particulars of persons liable for the charge, together with full information and instructions.

WAGES TAX Attention is also directed to the fact that employers who fail to deduct and duly account for wages tax in respect of all wages paid, including amounts paid to casual employees engaged on a time, piecework, or similar basis render themselves liable to severe penalties.

The necessity for retaining pay sheets, wages hooks, and receipts for wages, salaries, or other classes of income subject to deduction of the charge at the source, for a period of not less than five years, is alsoi stressed. Such records must be available for inspection by any person authorised by the regulations to inspect books or other documents.