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The Commercial Advisory Committee, comprised of members of the New Zealand <*rain, Seed, and Produce Merchants' Federation, has given valuable assistance in the implementing of the above-mentioned controls. Onion Marketing Advisory Committee The Onion Marketing Advisory Committee, constituted under the Board of Trade (Onion) Regulations 1938, and consisting of representatives of growers and merchants, acts in an advisory capacity in matters affecting the production and marketing of the onion ■crop, and has been of material assistance in the difficulties associated with an attempt to line the production of this commodity with the varying requirements necessitated under war conditions and the change to peacetime demand. Potato Advisory Committee The Potato Advisory Committee, set up under the Primary Industries Emergency Regulations 1939, and having similar representation to the Onion Marketing Advisory Committee, has given close watch to the production of potatoes during the war, and its advice has been readily accepted in implementing the control over the potato industry necessary to fit it into the wartime scheme. This Committee has continued its functions in relation to the 1945-46 crop, but its members are now giving consideration to ways and means of placing the post-war industry on a more stable basis than existed before the outbreak of war. Barley Advisory Committee Set up before the war to assist both the producers and users of malting-barley, this Committee continues to render a useful service. It has no statutory powers, but by the close co-operation of the representatives of all parties it has been instrumental in bringing about an improvement in the general trading conditions between seller and buyer. At the same time, the work of the Committee has been most helpful to the growers of barley with regard to their production methods. Seed-testing Station For the year ended December, 1945, the receipt of slightly over 35,000 samples was recorded, representing an increase of nearly 30 per cent, on the total for the previous year — itself a record. The total samples worked were (previous year in parentheses):— Purity analyses .. .. .. .. 29,366 (22,350) Germination tests .. .. .. ... 35,011 (26,710) Ultra-violet-light examination "... ... 4,150 (4,675) Picric acid tests .. .. .. .. 4,780 (3,455) Totals .. .. .. .. 73,307 (57,190) This is an increase of 16,117 over 1944. Although during the war substantial additions to staff and equipment were approved, neither has been secured in full, and the rate of development of the Seed-testing Station has been markedly exceeded by that of the seed industry. It is clear that the Department cannot hope to provide the testing services required by the industry until the Station is re-accommodated with further augmentation of both staff and equipment. In this respect the status of the Station, both in New Zealand and overseas, is now that of a Dominion institution, and it is to be hoped that the consolidation of this status will be effected by the provision of a suitable building for the Station's occupancy. Seed Quality and Trading.—Generally, quality for 1945 production was poor, while an export demand exceeded available supplies; of appropriate quality. Quantities of perennial rye-grass and white and red clovers of qualities, much below those usually

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