FERTILISER DELIVERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25203, 16 May 1945, Page 9

FERTILISER DELIVERY

BULK DEPOTS OPPOSED MANUFACTURER'S VIEWS A suggestion by the Auckland District Council of Primary Production that bulk depots might be established at strategic points in the Waikato in order to overcome the bottleneck in the distribution of fertiliser is not supported by one manufacturer in Auckland. He said yesterday that there was nothing in the scheme to commend it and it would only serve to increase the cost of fertiliser. To provide for the delivery of bulk superphosphate direct from dens to railway trucks would involve considerable capital expenditure in altering the layout of the works, in addition to that involved in erecting the depots, which would have to cover the North Island, he continued. Depots would require to be equipped with a mechanical system for receiving the bulk fertiliser from railway trucks and conveying it to dressing and bagging units, it was thus obvious that the handling of large quantities at the manufacturing centres was more economical than small and spasmodic deliveries from depots. "It is quite evident that the Primary Production Council and the General .Manager of Railways are not conversant with the chemical composition and mechanical condition of superphosphate," added the manufacturer. "By the time the fertiliser reached its destination it t would be a consolidated mass and it would mean pick-and-shovel work to empty the trucks." SHORTAGE OF TRANSPORT HOPE OF AN IMPROVEMENT (0.C.) HAMILTON, Tuesday A reply has been receiyed by Mr W. Marshall, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., from the acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, to the company's request that there should be an immediate mobilisation of all transport facilities to overcome the serious hold-up in deliveries of fertiliser. Mr Nash stated that the subject had been under continuous survey by the Government and every possible means would be taken to step up deliveries, but owing to the necessity to conserve petrol and coal it was not possible immediately to meet the situation. Negotiations with a view to expediting deliveries were taking place, and if the means contemplated were available deliveries should improve within the next few weeks. Mr Marshall said that suppliers were so perturbed that any improvement would be welcomed, although it was now late in the season for the best results. It was most regrettable that the shortage of coal had prevented the distribution of the limited quantity which was ready for use, particularly the possibility of further food cuts in the United Kingdom was contemplated. RAGLAN COUNTY RATES (0.C.) HAMILTON, Tuesday • A decision to raise the general rate by 2d to -Id and the special rate by id to was made at the annual meeting of the Raglan County Council. Tn his report the chairman, Mr Hallybnrton.Tohnstone, stated that he had received a promise from the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and "the Main Highways Board that as soon as new highways could be declared the council's request for a continuous highway would receive priority. TWO MAORIS ON TRIAL Two Maoris, William White, labourer, aged 29 (Mr Noble), and Harry Tane, factory hand, aged 22 (Mr Dickson), stood trial before Mr Callan yesterday on a charge ot attempting to commit rape. There were alternative charges of assault with intent to commit rape, indecent assault and assault. White was further charged with common assault on a second woman and Tane with common assault on a third woman. Mr G. S. R. Meredith appeared for the Crown. When the Crown case was completed evidence for the defence was called and the hearing was adjourned until this morning.