LOW GRADE RYES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 263, 19 August 1936, Page 3

LOW GRADE RYES

BAD EFFECT ON EXPORT.

THE NEED FOR RESEARCH.

PALMERSTON N., August 18.

At the fifth annual conference of the New Zealand Grassland Association today, Mr A. H. Cockayne expressed the opinion that the inoveme'nt taken to coordinate research into grassland problems was one of the most important in the agricultural history of the Dominion. He also emphasised the need for a parent body representing the full thought of the scientific worker and the progressive farmer—some type of Agricultural Science Association to which all technical, and perhaps nou-technical, workers should belong. The development of such an idea would be of permanent benefit to New Zealand.

Mr L. J. Wild (president of the Royal Agricultural Society) visualised a similar organisation representative of all farming activities that could speak in one voice to the Government and give guidance in matters agricultural. Some observations on the question of the export of grass and clover seeds from New Ze'aland were made by Mr Cockayne. He said there were many who were optimistic enough to think New Zealand could establish a large export trade, pai - ticularly with Great Britain and the Continent. At present the only regular pasture seeds exported in any quantity weie Chewing’s fescue, brown-top, crested dogstail and white clover, but whenever crop shortage' in rye grasses and red clover took place Great Britain and Europe scoured the world for supplies and a transitory trade developed. However, the only rye procurable at the price offe'red in New Zealand was what was known as false perennial and Italian, both recognised as extremely bad types, and the question which arose was whether in the interests of the' future development of good types, bad ones should be allowed to be exported. Recently he received a letter from Professor W. Riddett emphasising the bad name New Zealand was getting as a result of the shipment of these low-grade ryes, but seeing that Great Britain was not prepared to pay the price the Dominion asked for its better ryes, and bad types were demanded by the trade, any prohibition of export would only lead to serious complaint from producers. Just how the position could be put on a better footing he was unable to say. The only way New Zealand’s better ryes could get a footing in Great Britain would be on a competitive price basis, but when the'y could be sold at a better price in New Zealand there appeared to be no method by which such competition could come about.!