Fertiliser Price Rise Attacked

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30857, 16 September 1965, Page 5

Fertiliser Price Rise Attacked

('New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, Sept. 15.

Increased fertiliser prices could mean the finish of any meat and wool production expansion in a large part of New Zealand, said the president of Waikato Federated Farmers, Mr M. G. Hewitt.

The increase, announced by the Price Tribunal, and which took effect throughout the country from September 9, amounts to 17s a ton at the plant of the Kiwi Fertiliser Company at Morrinsville.

Rises in cost of raw materials, including sulphur and potash, is the reason given by fertiliser industry spokesmen for the increase.

Together with the recent rise in aerial topdressing rates, the increase could cost the farmer £1 a ton extra — a rise of 10 to 12J per cent said Mr Hewitt. “In view of rebates the cooperative works have been able to pay on previous year’s operations, it would appear this rise is excessive,” he said. “I appreciate that some of the rock will have to come from Africa or South America and that there has been a slight rise in the cost of sulphur. “But in view of the obvious financial returns from well managed companies, this increase still appears excessive,” he said. “It completely nullifies any attempt at assistance the fertiliser subsidy could have been.”

Mr Hewitt suggested that in view of the effect of this extra cost involved in developing much marginal country, the farming industry should consider acquiring the whole of the fertiliser industry.

This would be an attempt

to achieve the efficiency “obviously possible for the cooperative and farmer-owned concerns,” he said. The Price Tribunal reviews the cost of fertiliser every year, and the fluctuation in price varies in different parts of the country.