BASIC SLAG.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 22, 27 January 1936, Page 8

BASIC SLAG.

HEAVY IMPORTATIONS. SEVEN SHIPS COMING. CARGOES FROM ANTWERP. Seven ships bringing full cargoes of basic slag from Antwerp are now on their way to Auckland, to the agency of the New Zealand Shipping Company. When the iast of these caigoes is discharged, la March next, tna year's importation of this class of fertiliser will already have reached a figure in excess of that for any recent year, while other shipments may follow later. The steamers that are now on their way are the Pensilva due on February 6, the Antigone due on February 10, the Tymeric due on February 15, the Eimonside due on February 23, the AngloAfrican due on February 29, the Salyus due on March 11, and the Anglo-Indian due on March 15. So close are they behind one another that from the time the first, thp Pensilva, arrives until the last, the AngloIndian, has landed her cargo, the discharging of basic slag at Auckland will be practically continuous, interrupted probably only for a day or two between the departure of one ship and the arrival of the next, for the space of over two months. The reasons for the sudden increase in the importation of basic slag is difficult to ascertain, but presumably the opinion of the importers is that improved prices for their produce overseas will enable the farmers to use more fertiliser during the coming year. Last year only two ships discharged cargoes of basic slag at Auckland, and the year before there were none at all.