EXPORT SEED TRADE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21746, 31 March 1936, Page 16

EXPORT SEED TRADE

TO TSX SMTOB 07 THE MBEBB. Sir,—ln reference to your report on i the discussion of the export seed trade 1 «t the meeting of the North Canterbury . muxmttve of the New Zealand Farmers' ] Union on Wednesday last, Mr L. R. C. , Macfaxlane is to be commended for ; giving publicity to a means of bringing < about a better organisation of our, < run seed export trade with Britain. ; feel sure that if th|s is handled i with, discretion, it would make more < than a ripple in the grass seed world. In 1928 when travelling Britain with the Empire farmers, we visited most ■ of the research stations and there heard of the high quality of our grass and , clover seeds, also of our faulty markets log- When we reached Aberdeen the demonstrator on the grass plots told us that if there were any New Zealand : people with the party, they could go lack and tell their fellows that they . Sew the best seeds in the world and , ere was a rich market awaiting them in Britain, as Britain imported most : of Its seed from Scandinavian countries. But we were to be sure and i tend our best Otir Agricultural Department is doing splendid work amongst the farmers, j teaching them the value of good seeds and pastures. Now it only needs some organised effort to further that work by gaining a market for their surplus certified seed. Why limit it to Britain? While with the Empire farmers who nave been touring our country, Mr John Fisher, of the School of Agriculture, Natal, South Africa, told me that Akaroa cocksfoot did splendidly in the South African Union. It was outstanding in its trials and outclassed all rivals so much that the Department of Agriculture strongly urged farmers throughout the Union of South Africa to use it in* their pastures. Our pig trade was at one time in a similar position to our export seed trade to-day. Some good influence got to with the result that the Pig Marketing Association was which, in its many ramifications, taught the farmer the class of pig wanted, watched its grading and final marketing. Many a farmer has blessed the day such an organisation started, bringing the much-needed cheque to help through these last difficult years; and as their quality improves their market is expanding to the prosperity of all. With our beautiful country and climate we should be able to produce the finest quality seed, which will count with the farmer for the building of his pasture. Our slogan should be "Nothing but the best." If we are going to win the people back to the lanjj we want markets and the only way to gain them is to be thorough, and in this avenue of trade we should follow it with persistence. This last season I saw that 11,000 sacks of grass seed had been exported from one of our ports in one shipment alone. I wondered how much was certified seed, or if it was the cheap seed bought from the farmer from Is 6d to Is 9d. for which the farmer had no chance of getting certification. This quality, if shipped, would destroy instead of building up a market. Mr Seddon was charged with spoonfeeding the farmer, when he helped the freezing and dairying industries by organised marketing and quality, bringing prosperity to all. I might suggest that a movement for co-operative and collective marketing might be fostered by the Government so that the smallest farmer might participate in its benefits, that no seed be allowed to leave the country without certification for export by the Department of Agriculture, and that a small levy be placed on all seed exported, to find new markets, after the trade had gained a footing strong enough to stand alone.—Yours, etc.. ALFRED FISHER. March 30, 1936.