N.Z. SUPPLIES OF FERTILISER

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26477, 19 July 1951, Page 9

N.Z. SUPPLIES OF FERTILISER

MINISTER SPEAKS ON NEEDS MEASURES TO OVERCOME DEFICIENCY (New Zealand Press Assoctatton) WELLINGTON, July 18. Primary production, not only for New Zealand’s sake, but also to assist the undeveloped countries of South and South-east Asia, would be in a parlous state if the grave problem of diminishing fertiliser supplies were not solved, said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) at the annual conference of Federated Farmers to-day. “Future supplies of fertiliser have become priority number one in New Zealand’s fanming industry,” said Mr Holyoake. “The whole scheme of increased production depends upon increased fertiliser supplies. “We all know what a bombshell it was to learn that, instead of being able to increase our supplies substantially this year, and still further in the future, we are faced instead with a serious deficiency.” The Minister said that last year New Zealand used 74,000 tons of sulBbur8 bur in fertiliser manufacture, and le manufacturers had planned to extedd their works to use 87;000 tons this year. Surveys showed that supplies of elemental sulphur would run out completely in a generation in the face of added civilian and military demands, said Mr Holyoake. After being told that New Zealand would receive only 55.000 tons of sulphur this year, the Dominion had pressed for a greater allocation. It was now likely that approximately 66.000 tons would be received. New Processes Sought “The Government is aware that far-reaching changes will have to be made in the fertiliser industry,” Mr Holyoake continued. “We must turn our attention to new processes. With that in view, tentative approaches have already been made concerning the use of pyrites from Australia.” The production of nitrogenous fertilisers in New Zealand would demand greater development of electric power for furnaces, said Mr Holyoake. A technical committee was compiling fundamental data, and Dr. Bridger, an American authority on fertilisers, would spend three months in. New Zealand to advise on several proposals. The entire industry would be reviewed, Mr Holyoake said he considered that the Government could not have done more than had been done so far to solve the problem. An immediate problem was whether fertiliser ordered before the recent price rise would carry a penal rate, because of the manufacturers' inability to supnly when ordered, perhaps four or five months ago. After explaining that the Price Tribunal would not grant one shilling more in price increases than could be justified by the manufacturers, Mr Holyoake said that the question was entirely one for the farmers themselves to answer. About 100000 tons of fertiliser was affected, the Minister said. Someone had to pay the extra. Nobody had told him yet that the Government should pay it. Something like £300,000 would have to be found to meet the rise on unfulfilled orders, if the fertiliser was to be supplied at the old rate. It would mean an additional 10s a ton on all fertiliser bought in New Zealand for the rest of the year. Would that charge go on to the price, or would it come put of the farmers’ own stabilisation fund, asked the Minister. It was entirely tor the farmers to decide which way to meet the Increase.