SALE OF SUPERPHOSPHATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1938, Page 3

SALE OF SUPERPHOSPHATE

AGRICULTURAL REGULATIONS. DAIRY COMPANIES’ POSITION. The Board of Trade (Fertiliser ' Price) Regulations 1938, which came ' into force on February 26, revoke the • 1936 regulations fixing the prices for i superphosphate and any imported 1 phosphatic fertiliser, and re-enact the ' provisions of the revoked regulations . modified as follows (writes Mr A. E. • Morrison, Solicitor for the Department of Agriculture): — The price at which superphosphate may be sold ex-works or f.0.r., specified rail points, to consumers, storekeepers, and merchants is the same as that fixed under the revoked regulations, but dairy companies and farmers’ organisations having a trading , department conducted on a co-opera- . five basis may purchase superphos- . phate for resale to suppliers or members at the same price as that chargeable to merchants—-viz, £3 Ils 6d per , ton in the North Island and £3 15s 6d in the South Island. , The price to be charged to consumers —i.e., persons purchasing superphosphate for their own use and not for resale —has not been altered —viz, , £3 16s per ton in the North Island and £4 2s per ton in the South Island. The prices at which superphosphate may be sold for delivery ex store or delivery .at other than the fixed rail points shall be the respective prices prescribed plus freight to the place from which the fertiliser is delivered. The prices fixed are for a sale for cash or monthly credit, but no sale of superphosphate shall be made where more than one month’s credit is given at a price lower than the appropriate price prescribed. Nevertheless, superphosphate may be sold at a price exceeding the appropriate price prescribed if the sale is made subject to the condition that if payment is made before the twentieth day of the month following the day of delivery the price of the superphosphate shall be reduced to the appropriate price prescribed. In respect of sales to a consumer, the vendor is required to set out in the invoice or debit note issued to the consumer, (a) the price of the goods, and (b) the freight (if any) payable by the purchaser. The giving or receiving in connection with any sale of superphosphate or phosphatic fertiliser of any discount, rebate, dividend, bonus, or other payment or allowance, whether in money or moneys worth, is prohibited. Dairy companies and farmers’ co-operative organisations may, however, make a distribution of profits arising from sales of superphosphate or phosphatic fertilisers to their' shareholders or members by way of bonus or dividend computed by reference to general trading profits not arising exclusively from sales of superphosphate. The regulations do not apply to any i sale or purchase of superphosphate or phosphatic fertiliser in a quantity of ; less than 10 cwt, so long as such sales ' or purchases are not made at prices; 1 or on terms more advantageous toI the purchaser than the prices and terms prescribed by the regulations. The penalty for a breach of the regulations is a fine of £2OO or three months’ imprisonment.