COCKSFOOT SEED.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 5533, 1 October 1929, Page 2

COCKSFOOT SEED.

BF'FIEiCT OF STAINING REGULATIONS.

PREFERENCE SHOWN FOR AKAROA COQKSFO'OT.

Recently the North Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Uuion- wrote to the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Agriculture, expressing its support of a request by the Little River branch, for the placing of a duty on cocksfoot imported from foreign countries. The letter of the union added that it had l been suggested that even to the point of an -embargo, would be fully justified owing to the fact that the competition of foreign cocksfoot was making the growing in Canterbury utire-. nv.inerative, and on top of this there was th-2 aspect that the foreign could not compare with the local' for foliage production, which l two features taken together must react to the disadvantage of the whole Dominion. The Minister, in his reply, which was received by the union, stated that a. consideration of the facts as thry -existed- would show the union that the competition of foreign cocks I loot could not be exercising any .real cllect at all. At the presant time 'Danish cocksfoot was landed: here a;t j £76 a ton, while the wholesale, price I of Akaroa cocksfoot was approximate | ly M-20 a ton, or 50 per cent, more 'than the imported article. Because of the staining regulations that were brought into force last year, trade in Danish cocksfoot had been very largely killed., and- it made not the least difference to the price of Akaroa cocksfoot whether the Danish was high or low. New Zealand cocksfoot now sells on. its merits, the only real cotr.petition being- between that produced on Banks Peninsula and that produced- on- the.Plains. "It is considered, the Minister added, "that there is no need either by duty or- embargo to alter the present protection of local growers brought about 1 by the- staining legislation-. The New Zealand grower is producing an article that commands a far higher price than does imported s.eed, and ha can now sell that seed l at the enhanced price that its quality warrants, without the least fear of unfair - competition by foreign seed." - •Mr W. W. iMulholland said' that tlu> recent market quotations for cocksfoot seed justified the Minister;-

in staling' that the staining Regulations had had a beneficial effect in- preventing the use 1 of inferior imported seed, and in increasing the demand for the local seed. It seemed' to him that'if the cocksfoot growers were to get full advantage from the staining regulations, they nvjst go in for a certain amount of propaganda. He also thought it was desirable to form a seed association, and he felt sure the Government would assist in regard to certification.. "Perhaps we were a >bit hasty "ut passing the resolution before we had seen the effect of the staining regulations,' said .Mr .Mulholland. "The regulations have not been in force long enough, yet for the ; full effect to be seen. The North. Island farmers

should be educated to see that the s- stained'-seed is inferior to the local d seed. I think that ire the meantime d we may as well let the matter rest, n but we should keep a close watch' on e the position ini order to see that it - remr.ins satisfactory so far as the r duty is concerned." He added that a he felt that if the growers took the i matter up energetically they would ? get good results from the staining -1 regulations. . , I Cl ' a ™ n < Mr 'M'lntosh) -a that the matter was already be- • I fore the Agricultural Committee of - the union. 1 - Tha action of the secretary in for- ; %££ "****>