PRICES OF SUPER

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 8

PRICES OF SUPER

FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION.

FURTHER EXPLANATION SOUGHT.

The difference in the price of superphosphate in the northern and southern parts of the North Island was discussed at the monthly meeting of the South Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union at Hawera yesterday. It was decided to ask the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, for an explanation of the circumstances ivhich he had stated in correspondence to have contributed towards the difference in price. The secretary (Mr. E. K. Cameron) stated that he had written to the North Island Fertiliser Manufacturers’ Association asking why there was a difference of 4s per ton in the price of superphosphate between the Waikato and other parts of the North Island. He had received a reply stating that the difference was .due to higher landing costs of the raw materials at such ports as New Plymouth and Wanganui as compared with those at Auckland. The outputs from southern factories were smaller and overhead costs consequently higher. The facts had been brought before the Department of Agriculture and had met with its approval. A different reason for the difference, which was in favour of the ■ northern areas, had been given, by the Minister of Agriculture, said the secretary. He had said in a recent letter that the granting of the discount was purely a matter between buyer and seller and was brought about by local circumstances. A suggestion was made by the president, Mr. W. A. Sheat, that they should obtain from the Department of Agriculture a comparison of landing costs at the northern ports and at the Taranaki and other southern ports, and why it had approved of the extra charge in the south. Mr. H. E. Blyde, president of the North Taranaki executive and the representative of both executives on the Dominion executive, suggested that it would be better to obtain from the Minister the local circumstances stated by him to be contributing to the difference in price. He was also of opinion that the question should be discussed by the committee of the two executives which it was proposed should be set up. It was decided to follow Mr. Blyde’s suggestions.