SHORTAGE OF FERTILISER

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26319, 13 January 1951, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF FERTILISER

More Use Of Basic Slag LARGER IMPORTS PROPOSED From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, January 12. “New Zealand will import as much basic slag as can be obtained,” said the Director-General of Agriculture (Mr E. .1. Fawcett) this evening, commenting on the threatened crisis in fertiliser supplies. “The extent to which basic slag can replace superphosphate as a fertiliser if the output of superphosphate is reduced by the world snortage of sulphur is controlled by the scale of overseas allocations. “Last year New Zealand imported the full quota of basic slag allowed her by Belgium, one of the world’s greatest suppliers. This amounted to 5000 tons. There is a possibility, however, that some additional supplies will be obtained from Japan. “New Zealand can look for little relief in the sulphur shortage from White Island, where there are considerable deposits or from Rotorua," said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake). “The use of White Island sulphur has been fully considered, but the difficulties and dangers involved in obtaining it fronj this source render such a project impracticable. "Scientists do not consider that White Island provides an alternative to the United States from which supplies used in -making superphosphate are drawn normally. As for Rotorua, sulphur is not there in commercial quantities.’’