FARMING AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 27, 12 May 1947, Page 3

FARMING AFFAIRS

FEDERATION NOTES SEED TESTING STATION South Island members of Federated Farmers show no signs of easing their pressure on the Government for the establishment of a seed-testing station in their island. The Council of the Agriculture section recently asked the Minister for an early decision on the matter and urged him to have the testing of samples speeded up. In his reply the Minister of Agriculture has advised the Federation that it was not yet possible to make a final decision on the matter. Any decision to establish a South Island station now, would cause a further deterioration in the efficiency of the present seed-testing service.

Presents efforts were being concentrated on improving the service given by the station at Palmerston North. Considerable improvements had already been made and the laboratory personnel had been increased by 50 per cent. In consequence the delay which occurred last year in testing samples was now almost eliminated. Facilities were now available to undertake 1000 purity and 900 germination tests every week and with the arrival of new seed germinators from overseas it would be possible to increase the weekly throughout the germination tests to 1300.

It was the delayed supply of that essential equipment, plus difficulties of staffing and accommodation which mainly precluded\the establishment of a permanent station in the South Island at present. Therefore the Minister felt sure that his department had adopted the right policy of improving the facilities at Palmerston North.

There had been, he concluded, two temporary stations operating in the South Island for nearly three months for the urgent testing of pre-harvest samples of ryegrass seed to determine the degree of infection with Blind Seed Disease. It was expected that stations would again be established for the same purpose next season. Meat Act Does the Government propose to amend the Meat Act and alter the powers of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board? From a letter received from the Minister of Agriculture that appears possible. The Council of the Meat and Wool section recently asked the Minister to give the .Meat Board powers to control the local marketing of meat and all internal matters regarding the meat trade. The subject matter of that resolution, wrote Mr Cullen, would be “borne in mind for consideration when the Act by which the Meat Producers’ Board was established is under review for amendment.” Sheep Industry Commission The appointment of the Royal Commission on sheepfarming, as promised by the Government prior to the election last year, would be announced at an early date. The commencement of the enquiry would not, therefore, be long delayed, wrote the Minister of Agriculture to Federated Farmers last week. Poor Quality Brushware

The Dairy section Council recently passed on to the Minister of Industries and Commerce complaints regarding the present poor quality of brushware. Representations for an improvement have now been passed on to the Standards Institute, says the Minister in reply, and the Institute has been directed to examine the complaints. A committee is then likely to be set up and to formulate standard specifications incorporating the requirements to which the various types and classes of brushware should conform if they are to give satisfactory service. That would provide a basis for the use of the Standard Mark as a reliable certification of quality and utility.