DOMINION PHOSPHATES

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1926, Page 4

DOMINION PHOSPHATES

PROBLEM FACES COUNTRY. NEED I'Oil TOP-DRESSING. At the present time the big problem facing the farmer is how to increase production profitably. This to a large extent depends upon marked increase in our imports of phosphates together with a reduction in the price of • all fertilisers. The yearly production of Nauru phosphates is allocated thus:—The United Kingdom takes 42 per cent; Australian 12 per cent; and New Zealand 10 per cent. This scale is subject to revision every live years, and any of the above countries may dispose of a portion ot its share which is not required to cither of the others. Last year New Zealand secured more than her share, '2l per cent., but Australia obtained 72 per cent., an increase far in excess of the Dominion’s increase. This increase was due to England obtaining most of her supplies from Northern Africa, but these African supplies might at any moment bo stopped, and England might be forced to take her full 42 per cent. New Zealand, therefore, might he compelled at any moment to accept her 1G per cent, which oven last rear was insufficient and which in succeed-

ing years would not nearly be sufficient, as the demand for Nauru is ever increasing. in 1923 New Zealand obtained 16.4 per cent of the output of Nauru and Ocean in 1924 onT.y 13.47 per cent; m 1920 20.99 per cent; whilst up to March 81st of this year cur share was 21.99 per cent. At the present time there is a general feeling among farmers throughout New Zealand that _ the price of artificial manures is higher than the cost of their importation, their manufacture and their distribution warrants. At the present time important negotiations and investigations are being made by the Government. A conference of the manufac-

turers took place a fortnight ago, and. as a result, it is hoped that the price of manures will he appreciably lowered. The price of manufactured 9(5-38 per cent super in Auckland has been quoted at. £5 2s Gd for last month. TOP-DRESSING. About 120,000 tons (if . phosphates manures are being used for top-dress-in<r. Bv fe.r the largest proportion of "the agricultural production is derived from the 17 million acres of sown grassland, both in the North and South Islands. It is on the permanent and increasing production ot herbage on these grass lauds—to >e turned into butterfat. wool and meat —that, our future prosperity depends. Tim Government is thoroughly convinced that the extension of pasture top-dressing on a scale far greater than is carried out at the present time is tho most urgent necessity in N<nv Zealand farm management. r I he progress of top-dressing has been perhaps the most outstanding development leading to increased production during the past decade, hut as calculations show that the tonnage used each year represents only 18lbs of manure for each aero of our sown grass land it must ho realised that the practice of top-dressing is still in its infancy. It is claimed by many farmers that at tho present time top-drossing with phosphates manures even at their present prices shows the greatest profits to the fa>mor out of. all the commodities lie is called upon to buy. In 1923-24 a farmer in the Maunwatu, with 25 rows, took off his property 4.2701 bof .'butterfat. In 1924 ho top-dressed 331 acres with three ewt of manure to the acre, being five tons, at a cost of £9 10s per ton. Tn the 1924-25 season he took from 27 cows 56721 bof butterfat which gave him an extra, profit, after deducting the cost of the manure of £ll3 9s Cd.