Northland Fertiliser Project Alive

Northern Advocate, 20 August 1938, Page 10

Northland Fertiliser Project Alive

"I feel confident that, sooner or later, wo of the North will be selfsufficient in the manufacture of fertili; art." remarked Mr E. S. Tremaine, chairman of directors of the Whangarci Co-op. Dairy Company. Ltd., when addressing the annual meeting of suppliers yesterday. "At the various district meetings held last May. I reported progress in regard to the negotiations for a fertiliser works at Whangarei and : übmitted the report of the fertiliser committee set up to further the project. No, new developments have occurred since publication of the committee's report. "For the benefit of those who did not attend a district meeting the matter is now in a position of stalemate. "The negotiations were held up for a long period owing to the reluctance of the Bureau of Industries and Commerce to grant a license, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of the committee.

Finally, the industry was delicensed and. shortly afterwards, an Order-in-Council appeared forbidding rebate to shareholders other than by way of dividend on share capital. “During the 18 months or so covered by the negotiations, building ccsts were steadily rising and now it would, in my opinion, cost about 20 per cent more to erect the works over the cost when the matter was discussed in 1936.

‘■However, those who read the report will see that the committee does not intend to lose sight of the matter, and I feel confident that, sooner or later, we of the North will be selfsufficient in the manufacture of fertilisers.”