LIME RATIONING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 4

LIME RATIONING

SCHEME TO CEASE CONTROLLER’S SERVICES BEING WITHDRAWN GOODWILL PLAN NEEDED The scheme by which an officer of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture at Gore, in collaboration with the Lime Rationing Committee, allocates orders for lime among the various sources of supply, will cease on August 31 next. This announcement was contained in a statement issued to the Daily Times yesterday by the department. The scheme, which was operated successfully on a voluntary basis during the war years and under the 100-miles-free-rail-age provision, was considered essential in view of the lime supply position and transport difficulties. “Although the demand for lime still exceeds the supply, particularly in the Otago area, and transport difficulties are still encountered, the recently introduced lime transport assistance scheme would place the departmental officer administering lime rationing in an intolerable position.” the statement explained. “The decision to withdraw the services of the, Fields Division officer from the lime rationing scheme was recently advised by the Minister of Agriculture, • Mr Cullen, and this information is now published to enable farmers to place orders for the period subsequent to August 31, 1948. Until lime production can be increased and transport facilities improved to meet present and future requirements, it appears evident that some farmers will not secure the , desired amounts of lime and consequently a scheme operated on a goodwill basis by producers and consumers, without direct departmental participation, may be considered desirable. Any form of lime rationing is merely an expedient to ensure equitable allocations, the real approach to coping with the problem being to increase production and improve transport facilities and methods of distribution. The progress made in increasing production indicates that the supply position can be improved and the latest methods of bulk distribution are proving satisfactory, thus releasing transport and bags at a quicker rate than was formerly possible. "As lime is so essential a factor in primary production.” the statement added, “ it is hoped that the producers and consumers, if necessary, will introduce and operate a scheme to ensure equitable allocations under the present conditions, which should be temporary, pending improvements along the lines already described.”