LOCATION OF SEED TESTING STATION

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1946, Page 8

LOCATION OF SEED TESTING STATION

WKbLlNtlTON, Aug. 1. "The question of nioving the seedtesting station to the Eouth Island has been uuder eonstant review during the past few years, " said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) in a writton reply to a question by Mr. W. li. Cil- 1 lespie (Hurunui), Mr. J\ D. Acland (Temuka), Mr. R. G. Gerard (AlidCanterbury) and Mr. D. C. Kidd (Waitaki). The Minister added that it had not beeu found practicable to move the present station from Palmerston Nortli under existing conditions without seriously interfering with the service :o producers and seed merchants over a long period. Alr. Gillespie said that the reply would be most unsatisfactory to producers and merchants in the Eonth Island. There was 110 argument whatever for retaining the seed-testing station in the North Island. Mr. C. IM. "Williams (Kaiapoi) said that, from a nation al point of view, all activities which eould be carried out as well or better. in the South Istau'i should be carried out there beeause of the acute shortage of electric power in the North Island. Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Mataura) said tliat the Minister in his reply should have indicated tliat the station woul i ultimately be' transferred to the Eoutli Island. Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson) said tliat il S)5 per cent. of tlie seed was grown ii. tlie tSouth Island it did not requin much consideration to say where tlun seed should be tested. Why eould 1101 the 'Minister say straight out tliat tln seeds would be tested where t.hey weri grovvn? That would be, sound economi'*s and cominonsense.

Mr. JM. H. Oram (Manawatu) sab tliat the arguments advanced for n" South Island station would be valiil i( ti seed-testing station were abont t'o !u established.. Bnt that at Palmerstoi. North was ' long estabJished with a highly-trained technical sta/T. It wouhl take two years to train siiuilar persi^ nel for tlie iSouth Island. The wholu argument of the direetor of tlie statio. was that, having built. up sucli 1111 organisation Avhich had a world repura lion, it was impract icable to shif't. 1! r. J. Hodgens (Palmerston North) said that the best argument tliose waitiing a Soutli Tsland station were able to ]>ut uy> was that it would be as logieal to send Routh Island rabbitskins to- the North Island for valuation and disposal as it was to send seeds for testing. The plant testing station was established a! Palmerston. North in 1S128 beeause of u demand from progressive farmers in the Sanson and I-Iawke's Bav districts who wanfed sonie guarantee that their rye,grass would nieasure up to internationa standards. In time less progressive persons in otlier parts followed tlieii exaiuple and sent their seod to this old established station. He eould not see whv it should now be proposed that a plant testing station which had aehieved an international reputation should now be shifted to where the seed was grown. No specilie example of liardship to the South Island had been quoted. !Mr. A. Hamilton (Wallace) said iic one questioned the efficiency of th" station. What was in question was its service to the South Island. Any raer chant in Invercargill or any fariner in tliat district growing seed for sale would answer the querv of tlie member for Palmerston North as to the hani ship sufi'ered. Delays in getting back saniples of seed sent for testing held up the marketing of, South Island seed.