SUPERPHOSPHATE SUPPLIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22610, 29 June 1935, Page 21

SUPERPHOSPHATE SUPPLIES

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY REDUCED WORKERS' WAGE CUTS RESTORED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 28. A reduction in the Government subsidy on the supply of superphosphates to New Zealand farmers for the year as from July 1, and the restoration of the cuts in wages of the workers employed by the fertiliser manufacturing companies, were announced by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr C. E. Macmillan). The Minister said the changed conditions would be as follows: The subsidy to be at the rate of Is 9d per ton of superphosphate sold from July 1, 1935, to June 30, 1936, the fertiliser manufacturing companies to restore the cuts made in the wages of their employees as from July 1, 1935; the Order-in-Council of July 11, 1934, to be revoked and with the following agreed upon conditions: — In the event of the Government cancelling the existing Order-in-Council governing the price terms in connection with the sale of superphosphate, the manufacturers will not increase the present price of superphosphate to farmers. Should the conditions at any time in the future render it necessary in the opinion of manufacturers to increase their selling price or reduce their discounts to dairy factories, they will not either increase their price or reduce their dairy factory discounts except in agreement with the Government. The reduction in the subsidy from 2s 0d par ton to Is 9d is due to the reductions in the cost of raw rock phosphate and increases in the cost of sulphur and wages. Since October, 1931, the Govarnment has paid out to date the sum of £383,053 in subsidies, varying in the first period at lis per ton to 2s 6c! per ton during the year from July 1, 1934, to the end of this month. The claims for superphosphates sold during this month cannot be made till July, and will be made at the rate of 2s 6d per ton.