TO SAFEGUARD FARMERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 155, 21 September 1927, Page 9

TO SAFEGUARD FARMERS

CONTROL OF FERTILISERS AMENDMENT TO LAW WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Greater protection for the farm«>i purchasing fertilisers is given by the provisions of the Fertilisers’ Bill introduced into the House of Representatives to-day. Mare complete and fairer control is given than was afforded by the Act of 1908. The Government does not take over control of the distribution and sale of these commodities. but inspectors and analysts will have their say as to whether the fertilisers are pure before being passed on to the man who is to use them.

The registration of the vendor himself and of the brands of his product will be necessary, and he will have t«» give a general description of the goods, showing the ingredients, percentages of certain constituents, fineness of grinding and the nature of any diluent. Fertiliser maj' be sold In bulk by the vendor notifying inspectors and complying with certain conditions In addition the vendor is compelled supply a certificate embracing details of percentages with every sale.

Authorised chemists have power to call for samples of fertilisers at any time, and inspectors, specially appointed for the purposes of the Act. may call for inspection. A penalty of £SO is imposed on anyone tampering with samples themselves or brands on samples. A similar fine for those falsely representing particulars of fertiliser. The results of analytical tests may be published without the publisher being liable A vendor prosecuted has right of action against the prior vendor, provided he bought in good faith, and sold he had purchased, not knowing the product to be otherwise than represented. In explaining the Bill the Hon O. .i Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, said that this made clearer to the farmer what he was buying in the way ol manure. Sir Joseph Ward wished to know where the analysis was to take pla< < He thought it should be at the port ol shipment, so that merchant* who v en really desirous of securing good stud, would be protected. He felt that if sufficient protection were not given to merchants, many of them would so far close down upon the purchase of fertiliser that there would not be sufficient in the country to fulfil the needs of the farmers.

Mr. Hawken said that arrangements were being made to have samples sent from Home, and then importers wouM know what they were getting, and their position would be made safe. Sir Joseph Ward expressed doubt that this would prove sufficient. 1 • felt that the whole cargo would have to be examined before a certificate of purity could be given because sample being received at this end of the world might not be an accurate indication of a cargo of a thousand tons of manure Mr. A. M. Samuel, Ohinemuri. imped that the purchaser would be protected against unduly high prices, and that the company which had done so mu i in the North to keep town prices would not be prejudiced. The Bill was read a second turn pro forma and referred to the Agricultural, Pastoral and Stock Comm: - tee.