A BIG CONCESSION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 247, 19 July 1928, Page 6

A BIG CONCESSION

CARRIAGE OF FERTILISERS WHAT FREIGHT REDUCTION HAS COST Figures quoted by the Minister of Agicuiture (Hon. O. J. Hawken) In the House of Representatives yesterday show that the reduction in railway freights on the carriage of fertilisers has been a fairly costly business. The cost last year, said the .Minister, was £106,538; this year it was expected to be about £150,000. That must be acknowledged to be a big concession in the gross price of manures to farmers, nearly all of whom used the railways for the carriage oi their supplies. The Minister also said that 35 per cent, superphosphate could be sold at £3 per ton in England owing to low and mediumquality phosphate-rock being purchased cheaply in North Africa and brought to England at an extremely low freight-rate, the 46 per cent, superphosphate was only manufactured there to meet special requirements, and sold at a considerably higher price. In the Dominion 35 per cent, superphosphate was not manufactured, the standard article was 44-46 per cent., selling in the North Island at £4 17s. 6d. cash f.o.r. at the works. That compared not unfavourably with the cheaper but lower-grade article commonly used in England. Another important factor influencing' the price of fertilisers in Great Britain was the competition with the Continental article, produced under conditions of low wages and depreciated currency. It was well known that the superphosphate-manufacturing Industry in England was in a very difficult position owing to the existing low prices.