49. Mr. Philips Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present position with regard to the development in this country of methods for the production of nitrophosphate fertilisers to take the place of superphosphate fertilisers; and to what extent field trials of nitrophosphate fertilisers are being encouraged by his Department.
Mr. T. WilliamsI am advised that a number of problems remain to be solved before nitrophosphate fertiliser can be produced on a commercial scale. Research work, which has been going on for a considerable time, has recently been intensified, and the companies concerned have now reached a stage where they can plan extensive field trials. Nitrophosphate has been included in the comprehensive series of fertiliser field trials that are being carried out this season under the auspices of the National Agricultural Advisory Service.