H.—29a.

8

to bo taken of the stocks of turnip, swede, and rape seeds in New Zealand, showing the quantity in store, the quantity ordered for 1918, the quantity for which advices have been received that can be supplied, the quantity on the water, and usual annual requirements. With this information before us we shall be in a much better position to see how we stand and the steps it will be necessary to take to make up as far as possible any deficiency. The variety which seems to be scarce is the Imperial or Hardy Green Globe, and we understand that steps have been taken by the Department to ascertain by experiments whether it is possible to grow turnip-seed by planting turnips in the middle of March so as to allow them to run to seed the following spring, but the quantities sown will be altogether too small for the season's requirements. If the seed of this turnip is not available some other variety might be imported before it is too late. The Imperial Green Globe, Hardy Green Globe, and Aberdeen varieties, however, seem to succeed in many cases where the swedes are subject to dry-rot. A Seeds Bill. This matter was discussed by the Board with Mr. Pope and Mr. Cockayne, as we are of opinion it is one of the matters that should not be put aside because of the war. If the importation of seeds is likely to continue, the introduction into Parliament of a Seeds Bill should be brought forward as soon as possible. Mr. Cockayne informed us that he had been going into the matter with a good many seed-merchants in the North Island, and that a Seeds Bill would meet with universal approval. The following resolution was therefore passed and sent on to you : — " That the Minister of Agriculture be requested to bring before Parliament a Bill providing (1) that all imported seeds should be examined by a Seeds Inspector, and not allowed to be sold until a permit is granted that the seeds contain no deleterious weedseed; (2) that such imported seed shall, if found necessary, be recleaned, and afterwards passed if found clean; and (3) that such seeds must have a certain specified germination, and if they are less than specified they must be notified on sale." We would urge that the matter be taken up and a Bill framed for presenting to Parliament when it again meets later on in the year. Noxious Weeds, and Suggested Amendments to Noxious Weeds Act. We had another interview with Mr. Pope, Secretary of Agriculture, and Mr. Cockayne, Biologist, with reference to the matter of noxious weeds, particularly in connection with the replies which had been received to the Board's weed-census circular, also the suggested amendments to the Noxious Weeds Act which had been submitted by Mr. Pope. Mr. Cockayne informed us he was of opinion that nothing was practicable in the way of amending the Act until a weed survey, which could be conducted on proper lines through the Fields Inspectors of the Department, had been made. We might then be in a position to say whether any procedure suggested was a sound and rational one, and whether the Act should be repealed or not. A weed survey would also be of considerable assistance in determining the " biddy-biddy " question. In order that farmers generally might know what the Department suggested as a means of endeavouring to deal with this vexed question we arranged with Mr. Pope to read a paper on the subject of the suggested amendments to the Noxious Weeds Act at the 1917 Conference of the Council of Agriculture. We are also of opinion that Mr. Cockayne's proposal to carry out certain definite experiments in connection with noxious weeds —for instance, the use of iron oxide as a means of controlling them—should be gone on with. Mr. Pope informed us he was quite willing to arrange for the carrying-out of such experiments on the lines suggested by Mr. Cockayne. The following resolution was passed and forwarded to you : — " That until there is a thoroughly satisfactory survey made of the weeds of the Dominion there should be no fresh legislation on the subject. The replies to the circular sent out by the Board showed a great diversity of opinion as to weeds and the differences in the locality in which they grow. The Board suggest that the subject be again dealt with by the Conference of the Council of Agriculture, to be introduced by a paper by Mr. Pope, Secretary of Agriculture, on the subject of the Noxious Weeds Act and its enforcement; and that steps should at once be taken to have a weed survey carried out by the officers of the Department, also a series of experiments started to determine the Best methods of coping with and checking weeds." Accommodation for Married Men on Farms and Stations. Cabinet referred for our consideration correspondence between the National Efficiency Board and the Prime Minister on the subject of accommodation for married men on farms and stations. The Chairman of the National Efficiency Board had also written our Board on the subject, and the question was fully gone into by both Boards in conference. Sections 31 to 33 of the Counties Amendment Act, 1913, authorizing County Councils to erect workers' dwellings on land acquired or appropriated for the purpose, and to let or otherwise dispose of such dwellings in the manner provided in those sections, were taken into consideration in connection with the matter, but it was thought that these would not meet the case, as farmers would prefer to borrow money from a central office like the Advances to Settlers Department