SUPPLY OF LIME TO FARMERS

Southland Times, Issue 23646, 22 October 1938, Page 19

SUPPLY OF LIME TO FARMERS

INQUIRY TO BE MADE BY GOVERNMENT The New Zealand Farmers’ Union has appointed Mr Walter Horrobin as its representative on the committee which the Government proposes to set up to investigate and repox-t upon the supply of agricultural lime to farmers. The committee is to comprise two representatives of lime companies (one of the small companies and one of the large), one representative of farmers, and representatives of the Department of Industries and Commerce. So far the remainder of the committee has not been appointed. A committee recently investigated the supply of lime to farmers, and as a result of its inquiries reached the conclusion that, because of uneconomic distribution, farmers were not receiving the full benefit of the amount annually spent on free railage of lime, and further, that the conditions in the industry generally required investigation. As a result of this report, the Government decided to appoint another committee with more comprehensive scope. This committee will investigate the position so far as it affects lime works not adjacent to railway lines, and the position of farmers whose districts are not served by rail. Other matters to which the committee will give attention are the price and quality of lime being supplied to farmers for agricultural purposes, more efficient organization of the industry, both with regard to distribution and marketing, and the securing of maximum benefit to farmers from the Government subsidy by way of free railage of agricultural lime. Mr Horrobin has been prominent in the affairs of the Farmers’ Union for many years, and at present holds the office of Dominion treasurer. He is a well-known sheep and dairy farmer of Waikanae, near Wellington, and is one of the Government nominees on the Poultry Board. He was a delegate to the Empire Producers’ Conference held at Sydney last March.