FERTILISER ISSUE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31142, 19 August 1966, Page 1

FERTILISER ISSUE

Accountant To Seek Solution

(From Our Own Reporter>

WELLINGTON, August 18.

At the invitation of the Government and with the agreement of both the Dominion Fertiliser Company and the South Island Fertiliser Company, Mr J. H. Pickles, a public accountant of Christchurch, is to explore fully the possibility of reaching a satisfactory arrangement between the two companies to provide for the supply of fertiliser from one works in South Canterbury.

Announcing this tonight, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) said that in a meeting with the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) yesterday, Mr R. H. Kerr and other directors of the South Island Fertiliser Company had expressed their agreement with the invitation to Mr Pickles.

Sir Carl Smith, of the Dominion Fertiliser Company, had indicated that he also was prepared to discuss the position with Mr Pickles. Mr Taiboys referred again to the fact that in July of last year he had suggested to the Meat Board that, should the Dominion Fertiliser Com-

pany continue with its announced intention of establishing a works notwithstanding the co-operative company’s securing the measure of support from the farmers required by the board, the board should consider the advisability of the two companies establishing a joint venture.

Mr Taiboys added that on June 29 the Meat Board had advised the Government that it was the board’s view that more could be accomplished and with a greater chance of success if a meeting between the companies was arranged by the Government rather than by the board. Mr Taiboys saw’ that as there was agreement that this course should be followed and also that there was not room for two works to operate economically in the area, he was hopeful that Mr Pickles’s investigations would produce a satisfactory solution.