To Set Up Special Committee On Northland Fertiliser Needs

Northern Advocate, 4 June 1947, Page 3

To Set Up Special Committee On Northland Fertiliser Needs

CABINET’S authority to set up a special committee to investigate all aspects of the fertiliser position in Northland is to be sought by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr E. L. Cullen). He will place his proposals before Cabinet on Friday.

This action will be the outcome of a special conference held at Whangarei yesterday when 30 delegates’of the dairy industry, local bodies and other Northland organisations presented to the Minister their arguments in favour of the establishment of a fertiliser works in this part of the Dominion.

The special committee will comprise representatives of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, the New Zealand Meat Beard, the Wool Board, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Industries and Commerce merchants, and possibly local bodies.

The second matter concerned the actual administration of the proposed fertiliser works.

Cooperative-minded delegates asked if a licence was to be granted 1.0 an overseas company, that a condition bo included in the licence to permit Northland farmers to obtain an interest in the project. It was suggested that the works should become cooperative in a specified period. Organisations supporting such a prpposal wore Federated Farmers, the Mnrsden Labour representation Committee, and some dairy factory directorates.

“If Cabinet authorises this scheme r v.'ill ask that the committee should settle down to work immediately and departmental officers will begin work straight away,’’ Mr Cullen stated.

The committee would report its findings to him and he would communicate them to Cabinet.

“If the decision is unfavourable 1 will come bad; here' to meet you again in this same room." Mr Cullen said adding that he would be ready to put his scheme before Cabinet on Friday

His proposal followed addresses by 21 different speakers, each of whom had about five minutes in which to address the conference. They introduced two side issues to the main question under discussion, but they were in complete agreement that Northland needed and warranted r fertiliser works.

Some cf the Bay of Islands delegates raised the question of location, one of them claiming that Gpua should be given consideration in this respect.

Both of these angles will probably be studied b.v the special committee which Mr Cullen proposes will be set up. They created interest at the conference, l)i.t most delegates were more interested in impressing upon the Minister Ihe dire need for fertiliser works in Northland. At the conclusion of the delegates' addresses the conference resolved: “That this meeting cf farmer and other interests respectfully urge the Honourable Minister of Agriculture to re commend to his Government that every facility be granted for the establishment in Northland of the pronosed fertiliser works."