FERTILISER SUPPLIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 35, 20 November 1943, Page 2

FERTILISER SUPPLIES.

THE MATTER OF PRIORITIES. UNSATISFACTORY TO FARMERS

Speaking at the meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday on the fertiliser position, the president (Mr P. J. Mowat) said that the reply of the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts) to telegrams from the executive and other bodies, asking for action, was not satisfactory. Another telegram had been sent informing him of the unsatisfactory nature of his replies, in which he gave no reason for the shortage—manure was still urgently needed to sow rape, kale, swedes and turnips. No reply to this had been received. Mr Mowat said he had told the Fields Inspector for Canterbury (Mr R. P. Connell) that the executive was not satisfied with the state of affairs, particularly in connection with priorities. On the first list was linen flax, peas, mangels, potatoes and barley. Rape, kale, swedes and turnips were on the second list. Mangels were included in the first list because there was a danger of a shortage of milk in the towns. The inspector had undertaken to recommend that rationing of fertiliser he instituted.

It was decjded to write to the Minister asking for a. reply to the second telegram.

The secretary (Mr W. H. Amos) said he had written to Kempthorne, Prosser and Company asking the reason for the shortage hut had not received a reply. Mr C. T. Ward moved that it be requested that any surplus of fertiliser from Dunedin be diverted to MidCanterbury. This was seconded by Mr G. H. B. Lill and carried unanimously. Mr H. C. B. Withell was asked to bring the matter before the Mid-Can-terbury Council of Primary Production and Mr R. G. Gerard, M.P., was asked to make inquiries about securing further supplies.