GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 84, 11 April 1940, Page 6

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY

IMPORTED PHOSPHATIC FERTILISERS FARMERS TO RECEIVE BENEFIT [ Ter I'reflß Association ] WELLINGTON, April 10. The introduction of a bUbsidy k certain imported phosphate fertiliseic which have arrived in the Dominion since the outbreak of the war, ana also on certain expected arrivals, w;„ announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Lee Martin, to-night. This subsidy is in addition to that at present being paid by the Government on certain raw materials used in the manufacture of superphosphate. The main lines concerned m the new subsidy are North African phosphate, Walpole guano, Seychelles guano and basic slag. The Minister said the rate would not in any case exceed 7s 6cl a ton. Where the actual increase In c.i.f. and e. cost was below 7s 6d a ton, based on the average similar. cost Before the outbreak of war, only the actual increase a ton would be paid. “As the object of this subsidy is the lowering of costs to farmer consumers, the Department of Agriculture will require to be satisfied that the benefit of the subsidy is wholly passed on io the farmers,” said the Minister. “The department will communicate wiji importers and will then arrange tne appropriate subsidy payments to merchants on receipt of a declaration that every farmer who has bougfit imported phosphatic fertiliser of the type entitled to the subsidy in lots of one ton or more, has received a refund. Transactions in lots of under one ton effected to date will not be eligible for the subsidy at any point.'