RATIONING OF LIME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1942, Page 2

RATIONING OF LIME

NOT CONSIDERED BY DEPARTMENT. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Department of Agriculture had not considered any compulsory scheme of lime rationing, stated the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Barclay, m the House of Representatives yesterday in replying to an urgent question by Mr Boswell (Government, Bay of. Islands) In a note to his question, Mr Boswell said there was an impression among farmers that because of transport difficulties a 30 per cent reduction m lime deliveries was under consideration by the Government. Mr Barclay said that consequent on meetings of representatives of lime companies and the Departments of Agriculture and Transport held recently, there was an impression among producers that' compulsory rationing was to be introduced by the Government. An attempt to do this, would raise extreme difficulties, and in many cases would not be reasonable in that lime companies in isolated areas might not require transport for delivery beyond that supplied by the farmer himself. At the same time farmers would recognise the difficulties arising from (he tire and petrol position and the unprecedented calls on rolling stock for other purposes. In order that inequalities and difficulties might be overcome to the greatest possible extent, h,e had asked all primary production councils to discuss the question of lime distribution and to meet company representatives in their districts. and endeavour to smooth out the difficulties being experienced by both companies and farmers. Councils and lime companies should make mutual arrangements in their areas for the distribution of lime on an equitable basis: