SEEDS SALE CONTROL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 137, 5 December 1911, Page 4

SEEDS SALE CONTROL.

Mr. Okey, finding nothing original to say about the Sends Sale Control Bill, at Albert Road,, reechoed Mr. Hine on the matter. Both these gentlemen profess to see in this measure, introduced by Mr. T. Mackenzie, a sinister weapon tp be used to the injury of the farmer and to force on him the impurity which the Bill was specifically framed to prohibit. ■Mr. Okey professes to believe that a measure which is based on legislation in force in some of the States of America, and in Canada, and which has had the effect of minimising tho proportion of weed seeds in parcels of crop seeds, besides giving the opportunity of proceeding against the seller of unclean seeds, is a menace to Xew Zealand farmers. Mr. Mackenzie knows his public, and he made 110 attempt to rush the Bill. It was referred to tho Agricultural Committee, of which Mr. Okey was a member, the other members being Messrs. Duncan. Lawry, Witty, Hall, Field and the Minister of Agriculture. This "nefarious" measure, which will, should it pass, smite the farmer hip and thigh by enabling him to plant his fields with seed with the smallest possible percentage of weeds, and the passage of jvliich was delayed in order to give farmers every chance of understanding it, becomes distorted bv a fanner whom it will benefit into a fell design against the man on the land. The contention of Mr. Hine and his tardy imitator, Mr. Okey, seems to> be that the Bill will legalise the addition of noxious weeds seeds to crop seeds, basing the contention on the provision that there must not be a greater prpportion of, say ragwort, than 4 per cent. It is found impossible in every country to free seed entirely from nojs-

ious weeds, and so the Bill provided for the maximum allowance, beyond which prosecutions might go. To suggest that a merchant having absolutely clean seed would imperil any reputation he might have if adding the 4 per cent, mentioned in the Bill is a very unworthy suggestion indeed. The present position in regard to farm seeds is that a buyer may purchase parcels that contain a very much larger proportion than 4 per cent., and is without remedy or redress. The pleasure .must have the effect of enforcing greater care in the cleaning of seed, and of saving much money to the farmers, who do not want to'purchase noxious wee<ls seeds at the price asked for pure lots. The farmer is probably not at all misled by (his latest unfair echo from Mr. Okey. lie is just as capable as that gentleman of distinguishing between 4 per cent, and a possible 10 per cent, of weeds, and if Mr. Okey hates the bought of his being protected from careless or .greedy merchants, there is no reason why the farmer should applaud Mr. Okey for his conservatism. The Seeds Sale Control Bill, if passed, and properly administered, must have the effect of greatly reducing the area of noxious weeds in New Zealand. Mr. Okey's attitude seems to be that he does not' favor the diminution of noxious weeds, that lie advises the farmer to keep on buving dirty seed, and that the man who fights for cleat- seed is an enemy to New Zealand. There is a distinct likelihood that the only reason for the antagonism of Mr. Okey is that the framer of the Bill is on the "wronjr" side. When the Reeds Sale Control Bill has been in operation for some time and the people forget who introduced it, following precedent, the Opposition may claim that such an excellent measure ha<l always been their special desire. Whether Mr. Okev's remarks on the Bill have gathered any votes to his side we know not, but anyone who supports wholesale adulteration, or the carelessness that causes adulteration, is not alive, to his own interests.