INFECTED BARLEY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20272, 25 June 1931, Page 10

INFECTED BARLEY.

MINISTER'S ATTITUDE. FARMERS' UNION EXPRESSES DISSATISFACTION. V • Considerable dissatisfaction at the attitude of the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. A. J.. Murdoch) towards.- the request of. the Dominion Executive that, tiio importation of rust and smut-infected barley should bo prohibited was expressed at yesterday's meeting of the executivo of the North Canterbury district of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Action was deferred, however, until a remit on the subject is placed before the Dominion Conference t» be held in Wellington on July 7th. The New Zealand Farmers' Union forwarded the following letter from the Minister: "I have to acknowledge receipt ot your letter of May 27th _ forwarding the request of the Dominion Executive of the Union, that the importation of barley contaminated with rust and smut should be prohibited. In the first pljce I should like to point out that tho control of smut in malting barleys in Mparts of Canterbury has not been connected in any way with'the Cereal Institute in Christchurch, but is duo entirely "to the Plant Research Station of' ray Department, in co-opera-tion with the Canterbury Seed Company. This work has been confined to malting barleys, but it has shown that barley smut is ■ a , disease, that can bo readily controlled, either by pickling or by hot water treatment, iinii in consequence need not be feared. \ "Smut *is still common in New Zea-land-grown seed' barleys, so that the prohibition of any importations of this grain would - not act as a safeguard in respect of; New Zealand barley crops and Hot be considered fi-pna the •point of view .of disease control." "Furthermore, .it has to be remembered . that the use of- imported _ barley is practically confined '■•-. to, districts where Parley-growing is not_ undertaken. to that, apart from its effect in reducing the cost to the user, importation is not likely to be disadvantageous to local producers." "Beport Unsatisfactory," ■ "It is quite wrong toi say that th© imported barley-does not the local product," sad Mr R, Tv MacMillan. . Tho chairman (Mr Colin Mcintosh) said that the report was very unsatisfactory. Mr D. J. Hawke Baid that steps should be taken to keep out all imported barloy, especially in view of the fact that, owing to careful research, the local barley was practically clean. Mr J. D. Hall said that the statements made in the report were most misleading. "Whoever made them should not be allowed to get away .vritli them," he added. MINING. KING SOLOMON DEEP LEAD, LIMITED* The following is a report on the work done at the mine for the two weeks ending June 19th, 1931. The drive east was extended 18 feet, making the total drivo 31 feet; at this point driving north jras started, driving in this direction being'completed for 25 feet. Both drives. were m wash for the distance driven. Driving nortji from station 7_was c6ntinued for 31 feet, the total distance of this drive being 85 feet. Driving west from this drive was started at two points, the total driving being respectively 12 and 26 feet* Cross-driving connecting two of the drives being pro-, duced north was done, the completed cross-driving being 46 feet. The wash iii the above drives averaged from Ift 6in to 2ft. The total dirt treated was 260 yards. The .gold return for th© period- was 2050z 17dwts. "Considerable work has been, done iu dismantling the ■ Stoney Creek buildings with a view to having them transported and re-erected at the mine. / LOANS BOARD. (rBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 24. A statement, issued by tho Prime Minister, reviewing the operations of the Local Government Loans Board, states that applications for the past year amounted to £3,840,505," new amounts sanctioned were £1,766,256, and renewals £838,901. During the four years of the operation of the Act, applications amounted to £18,702,930, new amounts sanctioned were £12,408,834, and renewals £3,664,793. , . | PRICE OF GOLD. j {ujnra» MH!S« ASSOCIATION—BT ELECTRIC j TELKOBATB—COPVBIOHT.) LONDON, June 23. Gold is quoted at 84s 10id 0 fine OUKC9. ' 1 m #■ u-