FARM FERTILISERS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 51, 24 November 1930, Page 10

FARM FERTILISERS

Carriage on Railways REMOVAL OF CONCESSION Considerable concern has been felt among sections of the farming community at the recommendation of the Railways Commission that the concession on the carriage of farmers’ fertilisers should be removed. This particular section of the commission’s report is still receiving the consideration of the Minister of Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, and representations have been made to him for the retention of the concessions. Opposition to the proposal was expressed at this year’s annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and a resolution on the point was passed. In the commission’s opinion additional revenue totalling £91,000 a year would result from a readjustment of freight rates on artificial manures. In a resolution the Farmers’ Union conference expressed the opinion that a restoration of the 1926 freight rates for fertilisers would mean an increased annual charge of £60,000 to the farmers, and of another £30,000 if there were a return to that standard as far as lime was concerned.

The opinion was expressed that farmers could not stand these charges <n view of the serious drop in primary produce prices. In addition, it was contended that the use of fertilisers would be curtailed with a resultant decreased production. .

Lime has been carried free up to a distance of 100 miles since 1898. The cost was borne by the Railways Department un to 1925. and the Government then decided that it should be a charge on the Department of Agriculture. Last year ’it was decided that the cost should be distributed equally between the two departments. Since 1924, £177,899 has been paid to the Railways Department by the Department of Agriculture for this purpose.