North Farmers Penalised

Northern Advocate, 4 June 1947, Page 3

North Farmers Penalised

Representing l(i Northland dairy companies, the chairman of the Northland Dairy Association (Mr E. G. Appleton) stressed the fact that Northland farmers were penalised by the fact that they were more than 100 miles from the centre of fertiliser distribution in Auckland. In the Northern Wairoa district’ only half of this year's allocation had been xceived and that two months late.

The establishment of works in Northland was a commonsen.se proposition which would make the product available in the vicinity of where it was needed. “Even the most sceptical of us 'would say that works are not only justified here, they should have been here three years ago." said Mr D. A. Finlayson, dairy association executive member and Maungaturoto Dairy Com.- i

pany chairman. Works in Northland were not, only desirable but an absolute necessity if the country was to be develpoed to the full. Agreeing with previous speakers on the need for works, and on the suitability of North African phosphate, the chairman of the Hikurangi Dairy Company (Mr J. Hay; said the question of sitfc should be settled.

Representing the Whangarei Dairy Company, its directorate, and 850 suppliers, Mr H. Jones supported the proposals. He stressed the need for fertiliser being available at the right time.

The Maungatapere Dairy Company chairman (Mr J. Breslin) spoke on similar lines, introducing the theme that the works should eventually become coperative. Auckland provincial president ot Federated Farmers (Mr ,J. ScottDavidson > expounded the cooperative idea, asking if such n provision could be made ii' a licence was granted to the overseas firm. Mr A. Briscoe Moore member of the North Island Hill Country Committee, the Farmers’ Union, Federated Farmers, and the New Zealand Wool Board, was not able to attend but he f left a letter setting out his views. SUITED TO CONDITIONS

The phosphate was particularly suitable to Northland conditions, where the high rainfall was combined with a high percentage of phosphate retentive soils. II had a special value to back-country areas, where tfanspori cost;; were heavy.

Bull: shipments to a central point would relieve congested transport, and the natural qualities of the fertiliser were most valuable, his letter stated. President of the Northland District Pig Council (Mr H. W. James) dealt with the close relationship between fertiliser production and pig-meat production, which he said had reached the lowest level since the slump days of 1930. Fertiliser costs were one of the main stumbling blocks. The chairman of the Bay of Islands County Council (Mr J. R. Morris) advanced Opua’s claims as the site of any proposed works. He said the transport question Uould be largely overcome by the use of the Moerewa Freezing Company’s fleet of trucks, which made 10,000 trips to every corner of Northland in a year. They could carry fertiliser on back loads. The huge amount involved in transport subsidies could be reduced substantially by such a scheme. ■ He favoured cooperative works, stating that the dairy companies and the Moerewa freezing works were run on this principle and he saw no reason why farmers eculd net run a fertiliser works on similar lines.

The part fertilisers could play in alleviating reading problems was stressed by the chairman of the Whangarei County Council (Mr J. Morrison). He said that 1040 square miles in the Whangarei County were served by 940 miles of road. There was plenty of length, but Quality was lacking. ROAD PPROBLEM SOLUTION

The solution to roading problems was in increased production and more fertiliser would solve this. Land would become productive and revenue producing and roads could then be kept in better repair. Other speakers who endorsed the need for a fertiliser works in Northland were Mr C. A. Lovell (N.Z. Wool Board), Mr T. H. Hayes (Whangaroa County Council), Mr S. J. Snow (Whangarei Borough Council). Mr J. F. Johnson (Whangarei District Progressive Society). Mr A. Hellyn (Whangarei LRC). and Mr W. L. McKinnon (Whangarei Chamber of Commerce). Representing the Whangarei Harbour Board, Mr 11. E. Hewlett, vice-chair-man, said that while hunger for food existed on the other side of the world, hunger for fertiliser was fopnd in Northland.

A great dSal of barren land in the district could be raised to a high standard of productivity with proper manure, he added.

'fho Whangarei Harbour Board had prepared its harbour to receive the fertiliser works :ind it was able to provide the necessary combination of transport facilities, Mr Hewlett stated. He then submitted tli.e motion mentioned above. Mr Scoll-Davidson seconded and the motion was carried without dissent.

After Mr Cullen had replied, he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the interest he had shown in the whole project.