LIME INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 194, 18 July 1939, Page 6

LIME INDUSTRY

COMMITTEE’S INQUIRY. / EVIDENCE TENDERED. The Lime Committee which is conducting an investigation into the production and distribution of lime m New Zealand, met in Palmerston North, to-day, the proceedings being held in private. The committee has been engaged on its present task for the past six weeks, and during that period has visited centres from Whangnrei to Invercargill. Palmerston North is the last district of tho committee’s work. The committee s order of reference is as follows:—(1) To investigate tho more efficient production of lime and the organisation of the lime industry generally; (2) to recommend more etiicient methods of distribution and marketing of lime; (3) to investigate and report on the most efficient and equitable manner in which Government assistance should be directed so that bona fide farmers may receive the maximum benefit therefrom, and to indicate the total estimated liability under any system alternative to that operating at present; (4) to investigate the prices and quality of agricultural lime from different works. To-day evidence was taken from lime company representatives, Farmers’ Union representatives and otheis. Yesterday the committee inspected the Manawatu Gorge lime works. The personnel of the committee is a» follows Chairman, Mr G. A. Holmes, Fields Division, Department of Agriculture; members. Mr N. E. Dalmer, investigating officer, Department or Industries and Commerce; Mr John Barron, Invercargill, and Mr F. Milne, Auckland, representing the lime companies ; Mr W. Horrobin, Waikanae. representing the Farmers’ Union; and .ur J. J. Scott, Wanganui.

When the committee was appointed in April, the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Lee Martin) emphasised the importance of the industry to the farming community, and expressed the hopo that the committee which had been set up to conduct the inquiry would receive the co-operation of all concerned.