PURE SEED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 225, 16 September 1908, Page 2

PURE SEED

SOCTUKBX ISKKD MERCHANTS' VIEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Xight.

I,will seed merchants speak gvuniledly iu regard tu the Agricultural I'roduce Sale iiiul Importation Bill, and state that they know little of the measure, but they agree that some of the seed sold in New Zealand is "dirty" and infested with weeds. A number "f them staled thai imported seeds were generally fairly free from weeds, .Mr. C. A. Hewlett, of tdins Canterbury Seed Co. slated Unit a kit of seed containing impurities came to New Zealand, and the importers had to clear it, but some of the local seed was very bad. The Canterbury farmers were worse tlian the North Island fanners. They purchased quantities of seed from' their neighbors, and used it without its having been cleaned at all. The fanners should Iw the very people to sow the best seed, but thev frequently took very poor stuff. 'i'lre machinery in Cnntei'bury was of the best up-to-date pattern, and (lie cleaning should lie good. ,Mr. J. K Waclisimn n, another seed merchant, said that lie thought that, the Hill should aim more at local seeds that at imported seeds, which were very clean, being machine dressed and purchased by the importers after the approval of a sample. If the bulk did not come up to samplv theimporters refused it. They had to import seeds to meet the demands of the fanners after a short season. The idea «f making the cleaning of seed compulsory was a good one, but lie wo'iild not like to say anything further until he know on what lines this Bill had been drawn. llr. li. A. Joseph stated that imported seeds were usually very clean, according to price. Ife thought that the (fovcrmneni should take drastic steps against the sale of colonial scWls that were not clean. The selling or seed containing weeds did great mischief, and cerlainlv the (iovernment should see that the people selling ?eed with Califoriiiiin thistle in it should l:e made responsible for their misdeeds, lie would be' quite willing to forward his viewjs to Messrs. Shirlclill'-e and Miles if he knew what the. Bill meant. They might be advocating quite a different measure from one that he would favor.

DUNEDIN" ACTION.

Dunedin, Last Xig'hl

A special meeting of the committee of Hie Chamber of Commerce was held to-day to receive a deputation with reference to the Agricultural Produce , Sales and Importation Bill. After hearing the deputation, it was una;ii- ' mously resolved to forward a telegram to the Premier, the lion. 11. McNab, the lfon. Dr. I'in.llav. members of the C'pper House, and Messrs T. MaeKenzie, ,1. Allen, and Malcolm. M.'sP., asking ihat consideration be deferred until such time as further information can be obtained and a more workable measure introduced.