ABOUT FERTILISERS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1923, Page 7

ABOUT FERTILISERS

A FARMERS' DISCUSSION

The annual Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was continued to-day. In the absence of the president (Mr. W. J. Poison), who was attending a deputation of members of the union to country members of Parliament, Mr. C. C Munro (Auckland) was voted to the chair.

The report of the Agricultural, Education, and Agriculture Committee was brought .up. The committee made a number of recommendations with respect to particular remits. The Combined Palmerston North Conference had urged that the Government be asked to take steps to the Fertiliser Act, and, among other things, to make the following additions:'—" That it be made com•pulsory for all manufacturers and importers of fertilisers to have branded on the bags containing such fertilisers— (a) The names of the manufacturers or importers, or, in lieu of names, a distinguishing registered mark. Special recommendations were made in regard to phosphates, potassic fertilisers, nitrogenous fertilisers, etc.

In addition to the distinguishing mark it was recommended that there be attached thereto an improved tag bearing; the_ guaranteed analysis, as registered with the Department of Agriculture.

Mr. B. C. Aston. Director of the chemistry branch of the Department of Agriculture, explained to the conference the existing practice of the Department in dealing with different fertilisers., The committee's recommendation was adopted.

The committee urged the desirableness of steps being taken to simplify the statement of analysis. This recommendation was negatived. A remit was received, from Otago " protesting against the present high price of Nauru phosphate, and calls on 4!ie_ Government' to insist that all costs incidental to transport, preparation, and distribution be kept as low as possible." Mr. F. S. Bowen (Gisborne) moved that the matter be referred to the Dominion executive for consideration.

The president concurred that instead ol passing a hasty resolution,' it would be well that the executive should give the matter further consideration. This was agreed to.