USE OF FERTILISERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 29 August 1942, Page 4

USE OF FERTILISERS

RATIONING ARRANGEMENTS

POWERS OF LOCAL COMMITTEE In a statement to “The Mail” the chairman of the Nelson Phosphate Fertiliser Rationing Committee, Mr D. Merry, indicated that many fanners were making application to the committee for a more liberal allowance of phosphatic fertiliser. The maximum amounts of superphosphate or other phosphatic fertiliser available for cropping were set out under recent gazette notice and the allowance for the crops specified was published in “The Mail.” The Rationing Committee had no power to grant more than these amounts.

Regarding fertiliser for top-dress-ing, Mr Merry stated that farmers were entitled to draw from their previous supplier 70 per cent of last year’s ration. Where a farm had recently changed hands, or where for some other reason fertiliser had not been applied in the two years on which rationing was based, a written application to the committee for relief might be made.

Farmers, however, should realise (Mr Merry continued) that the present ration for topdressing was now only 28 per cent of pre-war usage. No increase on this amount would be allowable by the committee. At present New Zealand is experiencing great difficulty in importing the phosphatic rock from which superphosphate is made and apart from ensuring adequate fertiliser for essential crops the ration to grassland could not be increased. Any application for relief to the committee on the grounds stated should be made no later than 31st August next.