AIR TOPDRESSING CHARGES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 16

AIR TOPDRESSING CHARGES

No Increase In Canterbury

Although increases in charges for aerial topdressing in Otago and Southland as from January 1 next have been announced by the Aviation Industry Association, an organisation representing aerial topdressing firms, no increases were contemplated in Canterbury at the moment, said the Canter-bury-Marlborough secretary of the association (Mr S. T. Prestney) in Christchurch yesterday. The new minimum price for sowing either bagged or bulk superphosphate in Otago and Southland will be £3 5s a ton.

The present charge for sowing in Canterbury and Marlborough is from £4 a ton downwards, on a price-scale fixed according to topdressing conditions. Until recently, the price for sowing in Otago and Southland had been based on the operation of Tiger Moth aircraft, which pioneered the topdressing industry. In recent years, with the advent of new and specialised aircraft, the extra cost of operating these Was offset, to a large extent, by the spectacular increase in tonnages as the industry developed. In 1950. the amount of fertiliser distributed by air was only 5000 tons, and in 1951, 44,957 tons. Spectacular increases were shown each year until 1956, when the amount distributed was 404,93* tons. During the last year, however, the total was 428.833 tons, only a comparatively small increase on the previous year.