SLOW SALE OF FERTILISERS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25552, 21 July 1948, Page 4

SLOW SALE OF FERTILISERS

FARMERS WITHHOLD ORDERS RESTORATION OF SUBSIDY SUGGESTED Although supplies to farmers still subject to strict rationing ferui isers are reported to be piling un the works in the South Island* want of orders, and the position if causing concern to merchant! an? manufacturers, as well as producers Inquiries made of manufacturing anrt distributing interests by “The Pre®” show that an unusual position ha* arisen. Many farmers, it was stated are definitely withholding their orders in anticipation of a reduction of pn c i by way of restoration of the subside to manufacturers. “While the price of superphosphate continues to be so much in the air" said one large distributor, “deliveries from the works are being seriouih affected—quite justifiably. It is. time that some guarantee was forth coming, either that the price will not be altered, or if it is to be reduced that purchasers will be indemnified against loss through having taken de, livery of their orders immediately j n order to help clear the mounting stock pile. Unless some definite assuranet on the point is given in the very near future, the experience in previous years of blockages occurring at the works during the seeding season ii likely to be repeated, and the longer farmers hold off taking delivery worse the position will become in the spring.” It was also learned that there is no hope whatever of the South Island works turning out any more super, phosphate during the coming month! than in previous years, even if trans* port facilities are a little better than last year. With nearly every farmei holding off till the spring to place hii order, there was bound to be a seriom time lag in deliveries at the most crucial period in the year. Effect on Production Mr J. W. Earl, president of the North Canterbury executive of Federated Farmers, said that until about a yeai ago, when the subsidy on fertiliseri was withdrawn, the demand for super, phosphate had been unabated. To-daj the reverse was the case. The use o! fertilisers was never more essentia: than to-day when producers wen straining every nerve to help Briteli by greater production. Mr Earl said that payment of a subsidy should cause no financial embarrassment to the Government which could avoid dipping into tin Consolidated Fund by making use o; the money lying to the credit of tin meat, wool, and dairy produce ac counts. "In other words.” said Ml Earl, “let the farmers plough bad into the soil some of the idle millions lying to their joint credit in the pools,’ The farmers, he added, preferred is stand on their own feet, and make um of the money which they themselvei had earned in the first place, understood that the Meat Board was fully in . accord with such a count in the case of lime as well as ferti Users. Something would undoubtedly havi to be done to relieve the present situs tion, for to-day fertilisers were no being used to the extent required ti ensure present-day productivity, to lay the foundations of future productivity by building up fertility, Mr Earl.