FERTILISER RATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 245, 29 July 1942, Page 5

FERTILISER RATION.

EXTRA FOR MORE PRODUCTION. HOPES OF THE MINISTER. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “I am hoping, although I am not promising, that we will have some up our sleeves which will be available for the extra crop,” said tlie Minister of'Primary Production for War Purposes (the Hon. W. J. Poison) when speaking on the fertiliser ration to the South Island chairmen of Primary Production .Councils yesterday. He gave examples of abuses in the use of fertiliser, after stating that the reconstituted councils would be given discrimination in allocations of fertilisers. “Wo have only a moiety a little more than one-fourth—of the fertiliser which we had before and we have to eke it out,” said Mr Poison. “Wc have had to ration it very severely, hut we must use it for the crops we are endeavouring to grow. The ration was based, soundly, I think, on previous usage; but where the farmer is prepared to put in extra crop I am in hopes that we will have a little up our sleeves and that we could add to his ration in consideration of tho extra work he is doing. I have discussed it with Departmental officers. I cannot state the quantity, but I am chary of stating any quantities as we are living in an age when all sorts of things happen and oui- hopes may not be realised. But there will bo some extra proportion of fertiliser for extra production.” Mr Poison said lie wanted the district councils to keep a close w'atch on fertilisers, „ which were reported to have been misapplied. To dodge income tax farmers had been using fertilisers in quantities not needed on hillsides; in one case fertiliser had been used ion a park which had never produced anything. “We want every pennyweight of fertiliser for production, and if you find cases of that kind it is your duty to let the National Council know the position and so save waste,’’ said the Minister. “On the other hand, I know that people on tho marginal land are going to bo hard hit because they are scraping along on as little fertiliser as they can use. Hardship committees have been set up, and I am hoping to make them entirely a part of the production councils.”

Answering questions, Mr Poison said a suggestion had been made, when a request had been made that limeworkers should be released from the Army, that works should be closed down because transport difficulties were so acute. “We are calling a conference of those interested in transport, over which I shall preside, in order to see what solution can he found,” he added. “Where the lime works are handy to railways and serving a district not needing much lorry transport, we will .probably do something in providing labour. Ilnless someone can evolve a tyre which does not need rubber, lorries will have to stop.”