THE N.Z. FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVE FERTILISING CO.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 275, 6 November 1916, Page 3

THE N.Z. FARMERS’ CO-OPERA-TIVE FERTILISING CO.

HAWKE S BAY FRUITGROWERS By the invitation of the Hawke s Day Fruitgrowers’ Association committee. Ur. \V. J. Abbott, of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Fertiliser Co. addressed the members at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday afternoon. The chairman, Mr. A. M. Robertson, in introducing Air. Abbott, told the members that their committee had already gone into particulars with the company’s representative who had kindly obtained from his principals a special concession in a lower minimum of shares for the Hawke’s Bay Frnitgrewers and that their committee was quite satisfied that the cheaper and purer manures to be obtained to the shareholders from this company was not only beneficial to the farmers but to New Zealand as a whole and that this company should be well supported. Mr. Abbott in explaining the objects of the new company referred to the Pacific Island deposits and the very high grade superphosphate rock which the company had obtained concessions. He also explained how this rock was formed,, and that the discovery of phosphatic rock occurred m Cambridgeshire in the year 1842 ; this rock" being treated with sulphuric acid and made soluble for fertilising. From this discovery an enormous trade had eventuated and the demand increasing. The imports to New Zealand alone the past five years had increased considerably over 100 per cent. 1 From a map of the world it was shown the situation of the Islands deposits and how near they were to New Zealand. Japan had to send to these islands, take the rock back, treat it, and then export it to New' Zealand, a total distance of over 12,000 uiiles ; the freight of which the New Zealand farmer had to pay. Australia also had to come right across the ocean likewise, take it back to manufacture, then export it to New Zealand, a total distance of nearly 8000 miles. From these facts it W'as shown that the New Zealand farmer out of the price be is paying | for manures nearly 50 per cent, goes :to freight, importers’ profits and * charges. No better object lesson ! can be shown that the fact that superI phosphates have increased in price ! over 50 per cent, the past twelve i months and in some cases nearly 100 i per cent, since the war began, and ! this is happening at a momentous | time when it is imperative that this i country must have a greater produc- ! tiveness winch will enable New ZeaI land farmers to do their dutj’ in this 1 present struggle. Almost at New Zealand’s very doors there are millions of tons* of high grade phosphate of lime, yet relying upon the important article and tne consequent present price has made it almost prohibitive to the average small farmer. It would have made a vast difference to the productiveness of this country today if the farmer w r as manufacturing and using a purer and very much cheaper fertiliser. Mr. Abbott quoted some interesting figures from the “Agricultural Journal,” show’ing the loss of exports in superphosphates from Germany, Austria, Holland and Belgium and other foreign countries to New Zealand, and the consequence of which Australia exports to us had increased in twelve months to 2darch last 400 per cent., and Japan the past two years had also increased nearly 400 per cent, in superphosphates to this country. The amount of imports in artificial manures amounts to £500,000 and the use of fertilisers in this country was only in its infancy, there was no reason why this amount should not be conserved to this country, more especially when as can clearly be seen we can obtain a much higher grade of superphosphate at considerably less cost, and w’ith the large up-to-date automatic plant manufacture every grade of artificial manure and acids cheaper than other countries. With the establishment of the Farmers’ Co-operative _ Works and its gradual expansion, will mean the end of foreign imports as the cost of freight from these countries give to New Zealand more than sufficient protection. Mr.'Abbott pointed out the advisability of obtaining shares as soon as possible owing to there being a certain amount allotted to each district. A unanimous resolution, was carried supporting the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Company and asking for a smaller minimum of shares to the Hawke’s Bay Fruit Growers. A large number present showed their support in a practical way by immediately taking shares.