PRICE OF MANURES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 518, 30 March 1920, Page 2

PRICE OF MANURES

QUALITY QUESTIONED. BREAKING DOWN WITH SAND. CAN BE DONE AT HOME. SAVING COST AND FREIGHT. At the last meeting of the Franklin Sub-Provincial Distirct, New Zealand Farmers' Union, the following remit was proposed by Mr. F. A. Harcombe, and seconded by Mr. W. L. West, and carried:— "That the Board of Trade be isked to investigate the rapid rise in the price of manures." In the discussion that followed, Mr. C. Hodgkinson stated that In two weeks blood and bone had jumped from £l7 10s per ton to £2l 10s per ton. He stated that at a meetin.; of the Fertiliser Company, Mr. A. A. Ross was reported to have said that the farmer did not care what he paid as long as he could get manure. He wished to emphatically contradict Mr Ross. The farmer did care what he paid for manures. He wanted his manure at a reasonable price, and he wanted a good quality manure. Mr. H. 0. Mellsop stated that there was a great shortage in all kinds of manures. Japan had purchased the whole output of Calcutta bonedust at £23 per ton, while the Australian Government had limited the export of superphosphates. Various other delegates present considered th'it profiteering was being carried on in manures, but that it was verv hard to obtain definite

proof. After further discussion another remit was proposed by Mr. Mellsop and seconded by Mr. E. Piggott, "That the Government compel the manufacturers of manures to give the exact analysis and ingredients of manures."

Some manufacturers mixed sand with manure, and the farmer had to pay freight and cartage on it, while very often he had equally as suitable sand at home, and could save a lot in freights and cartage if he knew the ingredients. It would pay him better to buy at a much higher price a highly concentrated manure, iml break it down at home.