THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24791, 16 December 1941, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD

By Rnstictis

SALT LICKS RESTRICTIONS~ON r iMPORTATION i „ „ Every farmer knows the necessity of correcting New Zealand soil deficiencies by supplements to the diets of live stock. He also knows that salt is essential to every form of animal life. He is aware also that all live stock will take readily to salt and that this article forms one of the most convenient, useful, and satisfactory means of ministering these chemical supple* ments which are necessary as correctives of soil deficiencies in the various areas. Many farmers are of the opinion that the most economical and satisfactory method is to use the hard compressed salt blocks as manufactured in Canada and Australia. Realising that New Zealand is a primary producing country, and that the Dominion depends for its whole existence on the products of the soil, it is difficult to understand the attitude of the Government in debarring the entry of compressed salt licks into New Zealand. When the schedules for the sixth licensing period were announced, the astonishing fact was revealed that the Government had completely debarred the importation of salt licks for that period. Only as a result of protests from all over the country was the total embargo removed, and some small concession in the way of sixth period licences gained. These licences are, however7 s quite inadequate to admit the volume of salt blocks required by the farming community. Representations have been made to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr J. G: Barclay, the Director-general of the Department of Agriculture and Primary Industries Cbntroller, Mr A. H. Cockayne, and the Assistant Directorgeneral of the Department Of Agriculture, Mr E. J. Fawcett, to assist rather than hamper the importation of salt licks during the sixth period. These overtures have, however,, had no effect. An offer has been made to surrender other dollar licences in exchange for licences to import salt licks, and although this would involve considerable hardship on the importers concerned, and although such action on their part would remove the necessity for the Dominion to purchase additional dollar funds for any new salt lick licences, the appeal has fallen onjjeaf ears.