SEED TRADE AFFECTED

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1947, Page 5

SEED TRADE AFFECTED

(Speciai Corresponclent.)

CONCERN AT SHIPPING DELAYS

Received Wednesdav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 5. The sale of New Zealand seeds in Britain may be seriously alfected us the result of the shippiug delays in the Dominion. Several shipmeiits arrived too late last year for the autumn sowing and had to be carried over to the spring and it appears a large proportion of the supplies due sliort l.v for the spring sowiug will also be late. This means they will have to be held for the autumn sowing this year and also the spring of 1948. It is feared this earry over may have an efl'ect 011 the demand for the Dominion 's preseni harvest of a record acreage. Purchases may be shortly curtailed as a direct result of shipping delays. Grass aud clover seeds are particularly alfected. Supplies bought by Britain last April and May arrived too late. At present the greater bulk oi supplies has been shipped and is being shipped in the Suffolk, Pakeha, Pi bnt«t n iwi Dnvf W f I f\lt 11 'I'lt 1 W 11 vl I*

arrived on danuary 4 and its consigument, after being " bulked up" with English and American seeds, is now > just reaching the farmers. The Pakeha arrived on February 2 and it is not expected that its shipment will be on sale before earlv Mtirch. The Ribera and Port St. John are not expected to reaeh Britain until Marcli, in other words, in the middle of the sowing season. This is much too late for farmers who are now endeavouring to get seeds in barns in ease of an early spring. Oue direct result of these shipping delays has been the expression of a determination by English importers not to buy New Zealand seeds in future without an assurance of when shipments can be niade. New Zealand iirins handling seeds are seriously con eerned over the position. For instance, they believe that with over 23, 000 acres of perennial ryegrass entered for certification this year (or over 400i

acres more than last year), marketsoutside Britain may have to be found for selling the surplus not required by Britain due to the carry over. Grass and clover are not the only seeds alfected. Oue lirm of English importers has already bought and paic for several tous of garden peas. They were shipped in the Port Wellington which has just left New Zealand

waters. When they do arrive he're a proportion will have to be packeted be fore sale to the general public and il is feared they may be too late for tlie coming season. One importer, com menting 011 the position, said: "Many purchases for which higli prices have been paid, are causing buvers anxietv In addition to delays in New Zealand the domestic situation here has also to be borne in mind. Deliveries from ships in Britain are also slowed down— for instance, the Suffolk arrived just before the doclc strike — and all thesi circumstances have to be taken into account. Buyers are also concerned be cause they have to store seeds which arrive too late for the seasonal sowing and in addition to having warehousei congested, they stand to lose 011 tliosi which are perishable and won't liold their growth. "From the New Zealand produeers point of view, the delays are particu larly -unfortunate for they have beei. encouraged to produce a record acreage and they may have to search foi fresh markets to dispose of their pfo duction. There is also the importanl tendency not to be overlooked, that be lated delivery by New Zealand encou'rages higher production in Britain and also iufluences importers to look for supplies outside the Dominion." The seed trade is very concerned about the whole position which is regarded as very grave.