PRICE OF MANURES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 58, 7 February 1925, Page 5

PRICE OF MANURES.

FARMERS' UNION DISCUSSION. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE SOUGHT. The price of manures, more particularly pnosphates from Nauru Island, was discussed at length at the meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union toThe matter came under review when Mr L. H. Atkin moved: "That this executive considers that the time has arrived to resolutely set about seeking Government assistance to bring down the price of fertilisers in general, and phosphates in particular, believing that cheaper manures will gTeatly relieve the lot of the many struggling farmers and at the same time bring increased prosperity to the whole of the Dominion'.'" Mr Atkin B&id that the Nauru phosphate beds had not brought much relief to New Zealand farmers for they still had to pay as much for phosphates. The farming community could not go on as in the past and keep New Zealand prosperous. Fortunately there had been a boom in wool, but they still had to meet high charges for phosphates, which wore badly needed for improvement of farming lands. He thought that the Government should carry phosphates free in New Zealand, and even assist in the cost of freight over the water. He knew what phosphates meant to the land, and with ample supplies production could easily go up 25 per cent, It was no wonder that people did not want their sons to go on tho land. "Dairy farming to-day is not a payable industry," said Mr Atkin. „ , The president (Mr O. P. Lynch) seconded the motion, and in so doing said that any firm guaranteeing to take enough could secure raw phosphates from Nauru. "There is no doubt that this country is becoming worn out," said Mr H. Bond, when stressing the need for good manures such as phosphates from Nauru. . . "The country is becoming impoverished because the farmer cannot buy manures, and a little money spent by the Government in this regard would do a vast amount of good to the country," stated that mover of the resolu"it'was decided to forward the resolution to *he Dominion executive.