DISTRIBUTION OF FERTILISER ON WEST COAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1948, Page 7

DISTRIBUTION OF FERTILISER ON WEST COAST

The district superintendent of the Department of Agriculture at Christchurch is to be requested to meet the emergency committee of the West Coast branch of Federated Farmers on the question of the distribution of the phosphatic fertiliser quota for the West Coast. This was decided at the quarterly meeting of the executive of the branch at Greymquth yesterday, after a report on the difficulties being encountered had been given by Mr M. Wallace.

Mr Wallace pointed out that deliveries of superphosphate to the dairy companies, who undertook most of the distribution on the West Coast, were very much behind. The Westland Dairy Company should have had 639 tons by March 31, but there was outstanding no less than 449£ tons, and there was no chance of it coming to hand in time to be of any use for this season. If it had been received in January it would have made a tremendous difference to production early next season. Mr Wallace also pointed out that the West Coast suffered by being attached to the agricultural province of Canterbury as priorities were given to wheat and other crop growers. Dairy farmers in the Waikato and Taranaki did not suffer from this disability. He believed that the West Coast was entitled to its definite quota and that it should be made available, irrespective of drawings in Canterbury. Priority System

It was decided, on the motion of Messrs Wallace and H. Beckett to protest against the present system of priorities and to request that the West Coast be allocated its own quota. It was also decided to ask the district superintendent of the Department of Agriculture to discuss the matter with the executive. Some discussion also took place on the question of a free distribution point for fertiliser on the West Coast and it was decided to seek the support of district branches in making further representations. Messrs Wallace and W. Clayton reported on the recent visit of the Sheep Industry Commission, to which they gave evidence on behalf of the branch, and they were accorded a vote of thanks for their services. In order to ensure representation on the Canterbury Pig Council it was decided to create a pig-meat section of the branch and Mr Pitman was appointed delegate to the council. Houses Required at Ross The following remit from the Wataroa branch was carried: “As there is no need at present for more dwellings in this district it is the desire of this branch that more dwellings be built at Ross to house workers at the Ross lime works, considering that this is essential to the maintenance and increase of production in South Westland. Wataroa was not represented at the meeting but it was explained that the branch considered Wataroa was entitled to some State houses but was willing to forgo them in favour of Ross. A remit from the Waitaha branch, urging the formation of a veterinary club on the West Coast, to secure the services of a veterinary surgeon, was held over for the annual conference, to enable full information as to the establishment of such clubs to be obtained. Annual Conference It was left to the president and secretary (Mr J. Miilcare > to fix the date of the conference, in the second half of May and it was decided that April 30 be the last day for the receipt of remits. On the motion of Mr H. Beckett it was decided to make representations to the Minister of Industries and Commerce for greater supplies of mantles and parts for petrol lamps to be made available in country areas. Mr Jellie junr gave an outline of the plans of the Ross Lime Company to increase its capital from £5OOO to £30,000, to instal new plant,- including an electric generator, with the object of increasing its production from 5000 tons per annum to 15,000 or 20,000 and ultimately to 35,000 tons if required. He said that the prospects for the increase of capital was ready, awaiting official approval and as soon as it was received, details would be given to a meeting of shareholders. The necessary plant was also obtainable in New Zealand.