CEREAL SEED

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 161, 12 March 1915, Page 3

CEREAL SEED

FARMERS ANXIOUS ABOUT SUPPLIES.

(By Telegraph. —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 11.

Representations have been made to the Government by the Auckland Farmrs’ Union in respect to the difficulties in obtaining at a reasonable price seed for the extensive sowing of cereal and other crops. In a letter to Prime Minister, the provincial secretary to the union, Mr A. Schmitt, stated that farmers had been advised to keep back sufficient seed wherever possible, for the sowing of increased areas. Branch secretaries had been instructed to endeavour to gather information as to the intended area to be sown in wheat, oats, maize, rye and potatoes, and to ascertain what steps were beihg taken to secure seed, the fepr being that as the time went on the cost of seed would be so high that only about one half of the intended area would be sown. The suggestion was made that the Government should undertake to supply at least a potrion of the seed, the payment for which to stand ajgainst the crop. The Government should advertise that all farmers wishing to increase the area intended to be sown could procure seed from the Agricultural Department under suitable conditions.

Replying to thede representations,Mr Massey wrote that if the Government arranged to supply seed to one man it would have to supply it to a large proportion „of the farmers, bringing about an impossible position. Judging by the present appearances, the Prime Minister proceeded, “seed wheat suitable for spring sowing will be dear and I cannot possibly recommend of the imported grain for the purpose. Last year wo did something in the way of paying half railway freight on seed wheat, and we may 'o so again,though there is not much in the latter so far as each individual is concerned. I hesitate about encouraging the grow|inJg of wheat in small patches, because I have noticed this season that where there were no other crops ripening at the same time, the birds got most, of the grain. Then, too, there is the fact, with which every wheat-growing farmer is well acquainted, namely, that land which will grow oats very well indeed, may not be at alt suitable for wheat. It is very unfortunate that we have experienced a drought both in Australia and New Zealand during the war period, and if the crops in New Zealand had been up to the average this year we should not have had to go outside the Dominion for our wheat. There would have been just about enough for our requirements, and as far as I am able to ascertain, there will be a much larger area sown this season.” Mr Massey edded mat he wmuld endeavour to bring the subject before the Cabinet.