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A regular supply sufficient to meet all market-garden and fruitgrowers' requirements lias been maintained, with the exception of sulphate of potash, supplies of which havebeen released by the overseas authorities for tobacco fertilizer only. Importations during the year amounted to 2,500 tons of sulphate of ammonia, 350 tons of sulphateof potash, 3,000 tons of muriate of potash, and 400 tons of nitrate of ammonia. Stocks are carried to meet all requirements, and further shipments will be arriving during thecoming year. MOLASSES In the past, supplies of molasses for stock-feed have customarily been imported in large quantities from the Netherlands East Indies. Following the Japanese occupation,, there was a prospect of an acute shortage of supplies. As a result of prompt action by the New Zealand Government Trade Representative in Australia, substantial supplies were secured there in 1943, and this Division was asked to undertake the handling and distribution of such purchases. At the same time licenses were granted to privateimporters to augment supplies in case of any additional quantities being obtainable. This action has resulted in ample supplies, and the Division has still sufficient stocks available to meet requirements during the 1945 winter season. DRY BUTTERFAT The plant which was installed at King's Wharf, Auckland, to transform ordinary butter into pure fat, by eliminating all water, salt, and other impurities, has continued to function. However, instead of two-shift operation which was necessary when shortage of refrigerated shipping made it essential to have large quantities of butter reduced to a form that would travel to Britain merely in sealed tins, the plant has needed to run only periodically. It has done so when the National Patriotic Board has required dry fat for the Pacific and Middle East, where it is mainly used in making ice-cream for the Forces ; when low-grade or damaged butters have been salvaged by this process from what otherwise would be waste ; and when the quantities absorbed by parchment that is discarded in the course of patting operations are regularly treated. Thirty-seven tons have been processed for the overseas Forces and quantities valued at £670 recovered from waste. The Indians in Fiji, who actually prefer clarified butter, or " ghee," have been supplied, releasing equivalent quantities for military use or for Britain. Post-war prospects, with the exception of this market, are doubtful. After advice from the British authorities that the insurance against increased sinkings, which was provided by the additional " shadow plant " erected at Frankton. at their urgent request, will be no longer needed, this factory has been dismantled. BOBBY CALF MARKETING POOLS The general administration of bobby calf pools is carried out by the Division in so far as the forming of pool areas, gazetting Committees, receiving and summarizing annual accounts, and any other matter connected therewith are concerned. It has, however, no responsibility for the payment of any subsidies or for the sale of the calf meats and by-products. „ In an effort to conserve petrol and rubber during the war period the Minister of Marketing requested pool authorities to postpone annual meetings till the cessation of hostilities, and in this pool Committees co-operated very satisfactorily. It is intended, however, to have all pools hold annual meetings again before the commencement of the next season so that various matters relating to the industry may be brought before the producers.. _ . At the request of tlie Bobby Calf Executive, a revision and consolidation of the regulations is now being carried out, and this will be completed before the next calf season. The Committee set up by the Bobby Calf Executive in conjunction with the Dairy Board to investigate the possibility of introducing a form of standardized accounts and statistics reported little progress in this direction, but it is hoped that following further negotiations the industry will adopt some uniform standard of accounts suitable to all.

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