WHY SUBSIDISE?

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 243, 15 October 1931, Page 8

WHY SUBSIDISE?

USE OF SUPERPHOSPHATE. DIVERSITY OF OPINION. CRITICISM IN AUCKLAND. '

■ A" statement made by Dr. H. E. Annejt, of Hamilton, that superphosphate came first in -the Dominion s fertiliser needs has aroused criticism in Auckland. Mr. E. W. Yates said to-day that, although the Government had agreed to subsidise superphosphate only, much of the value of this subsidy "vv as lost owing to the fact that the Government had helped the dearer form of phosphate to the exclusion of the cheaper forms, bagic slag, and basic phosphates. ■ . _ Mr. -Yates'continued: "If taxpayers generally had not < been forced to pay this £100.000 subsidy the manufacturers would have reduced their prices to compete' with basic slags and basic phosphates, etc., which, in districts that have a generous rainfall, such as Auckland, Taranaki, etc., ,-are recognised as more suitable for topdressing grass lands.

. "Dr. Anriett makes out Lis case for superphosphate and congratulates the Government on' their action.'- However, there is .much to be said in favour of the sq-ealled foreign. slags and basic phosphates. To-day superphosphate sells at .£3 17/6,; per ton, but, with the same subsidy,, basic slag would be retailed at under, £3 per . ton. In England and on _the Continent slag and basic phosphates have replaced the use of superphosphate for , topdressing. grass- pastures.., Superphosphate is used for arable crops, but in the Auckland Province we do. not go in.for cropping; we grow grass.and topdress the' grass. . .

Advantages of' Non-acid Manures. "There is much practical evidence that -basic slag a'nd" .basic phosphates are superior to superphosphate for topdressing grass pastures. -*Tt. is imperative to use . lime with-"superphosphate to sweeten tlie soil.' Basic slag and basic phosphate contain free lime, and as they correct the natural sourness of the soil in the process of being assimilated by the plant this difficulty is obviated. » "The stock and station agents advise that it is a well-known fact that lambs fattened on pastures top-dressed with basic slag come to maturity much earlier than those fattened on superphosphates, and the gain in favour of basic slag is 21b per lamb. This fact is most impor : tant, as early lambs are always worth more. Recently the two largest super manufacturers formed a large lime company at Te Kuiti with' the idea, of making lime available at a. cheaper figure for use in conjunction with super. ' Limb is necessary to the well-being of dairy stock. Without it production will decrease and, disease will thin our herds, but if we use a basic manure the double •cost of distributing* : is saved as well as the cost'of the lime." Keeping Money in the Empire. • Superphosphate ,is composed-of Nauru -phosphate : and . sulphuric, acid (about half and half), explained Mr, Yates. Nauru Island is mandated territory; it is -worked' by Chinese coolies and in. many,vcases foreign freights carry the raw. rock, to - New .Zealand. A .royalty is paid on ./every ton to the'natives of 'Nauru; The sulphur is imported from the United' States and the manufacturing in New Zealand employs only about 700 hands at its peak. Eaw basic slag is produced in Belgium (England has no surplus). It is also ground in Belgium, but it is freighted to New Zealand by British ships —the same ships that carry our produce to the London market. Basic phosphates are mined in Tunisia (North Africa), ground in Belgium and also freighted in the same British, ships that carry slag. Belgium, being in a central position and having the raw slag on the •spot, is most econoMTEally situated for grinding fertilisers. This is • instanced by the fact that Germany imports over 1,000,000 tons .of slag a year from Belgium. Britain, Canada, South Africa and° South America also import large quantities, and from a money point of view no more is paid to foreign countries for slag and basic phosphate than is sent out for the raw products of superphosphate.

Government Experiments

Mr. Yates said that Government experiments had shown superphosphate to decrease, germination of turnip seeds. Also it is suspected of causing '"finger and toe" i- turnips in Tarauaki; it is quick, but :.ot lasting. With the present -method of rotational grazing basic slag and basic phosphate are eminently more suitable. A sudden rush of feed and then a scarcity is not suitable for this style of farming. He admits that we want cheap manure, but whv, he asks, should' the Government subsidise only one manure when each district needs different treatment and different fertilisers? If the Government desire is to assist local industry, Why does it not subsidise the manufacture of bonedust and blood and bone manure in New Zealand ? - These are 109 per cent New Zealand manures —not merely 25 per cent or so like supei phosphate.