SEED-TESTING STATION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23752, 25 September 1942, Page 7

SEED-TESTING STATION

PROPOSAL FOR TIMARU MINISTER TO BE APPROACHED The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has decided to make an immediate and urgent appeal to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) emphasising the need for the establishment of a seed-testing station. This decision was made, on The motion of Mr W. E. Baird, after a lively discussion on the proposal. . ; , , Mr Baird said that if they intended to secure a seed-testing station at Timaru the sooner they tackled the matter the better, as the necessary equipment could not be obtained under three months. . "It is only possible to have one seedtesting station in New Zealand.’ said Mr E. R. Cuzens; “I believe that there is only one in Australia and South Africa. If there were two wheat research institutes, one at Auckland and the other at Christchurch, confusion would occur, as growers could get two certificates. Each station might give different results." "You must get uniformity by the purity and germination test,” replied Mr Baird. “Seeds used to be sold without a test, but to-day It is the grower who has had his seeds tested who secures the market." x The president (Mr A. R. Graham) said that a suggestion had been made that the delegate to the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce at Wellington should make personal contact with officers of the department concerned in an effort to' advance the claims of Timaru for the establishment of a seed-testing station. Mr Baird emphasised the need for supporting the proposal to the utmost without delay. The proposal would not involve very heavy expenditure, said Mr Baird, and action in the matter should be expedited by the chamber. -