FARM FERTILISERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25466, 22 February 1944, Page 2

FARM FERTILISERS

DISTRIBUTION DELAYED SHORTAGE OF RAILWAY TRUCKS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 21. Owing to an inadequate supply of railway trucks, the three large fertiliser companies in Auckland are able to deliver only half their allocated quota. In some cases the firms are still working on December orders. Even when the full ration of fertiliser is available, farmers contend that it is insufficient to meet their requirements, and with only half this coming forward the position is serious, particularly in view of the present decline in dairy production. One* large Auckland fertiliser company is limited to 20 trucks a day, which enables it to despatch only 4000 tons of fertiliser a month, while its normal deliveries are 9000 tons, which is its rationed quota. The position is stated to be so acute that it is not known when many farmers will obtain delivery of their autumn manure. Orders are about two months behind. It is also stated that the company is finding it very difficult to obtain supplies of serpentine rock, although the material is stacked at various works awaiting railage. Other firms are in a similar position, and have had to explain to their clients that the delivery of much-needed fertilisers has been delayed owing' to the shortage of railway trucks. The opinion was expressed that as the farmer is working on the bare rationed minimum the least that could have been expected was that every effort would have been made to see, that he obtained it without delay. The shortage of man-power was another difficulty, but it was useless complaining about this until more trucks were available. When that position arose it was hoped that some provision could be made for the necessary labour.

Farming interests are most perturbed at this latest difficulty in the way of maintaining production. It is pointed out that while this is not the first occasion on which railway trucks have been in short supply the need for fertiliser was never more urgent. Strong opinions have been expressed by farmers, who point out that it is a small thing to ask that fertilisers should be given preference to certain classes of goods which are being carried on the railways, as no doubt many are not required so urgently as manure.