FERTILISER FOR BARLEY

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24226, 6 April 1944, Page 4

FERTILISER FOR BARLEY

♦ ■■■ ■ REASONS FOR FIRST - PRIORITY | The decision to include barley in the group of crops temporarily given t lflL’ priority in the supply of fertilisfiL was made by a committee convent' by the Department of Agriculture representative of farmers, distributrog of fertilisers, manufacturers of fertile ers, and the department. This was made yesterday by the fields sufirl erintendent of the department (Mr P. Connell) to an inquiry by Mr Vv’ E. Pearson, of Hororata, who b*“ . asked in a letter to “The Press” why - barley had received first priority, Mr Pearson claimed that barley was.' grown largely for brewing and had received first priority, while rape and ; turnips, which were important stoCK., foods and played a vital part in thj production of meat, had been allotted . only second and third priorities re* spectively. - Mr Connell said that the committee took into consideration the fact that malting barley had a place in the cropproduction programme by the National Council of Primary Pro*? duction. Also, having regard to the ~ date of sowing of barley, any other than first would have been futu® when the decision became operative on November 8. as the priority wouw have become effective too late in tne season to be of any use. At that stag* the supplying of fertiliser for barley did not appreciably affect the date or delivery of fertiliser for other crops. Unfilled orders for barley representco approximately one hour’s manufacture of the Canterbury superphosphate works.