SAFFRON THISTLE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 8

SAFFRON THISTLE

—•— SEED IN WHEAT CARGO AT LYTTELTON

Saffron thistle seed heads have now been discovered among the cargo of grain at present being discharged at Lyttelton frdtn the steamer Nemiskam Park.

Milling as well as fowl wheat is being discharged by the Nemiskam Park. Any wheat found to contain saffron thistle is to be diverted to mash manufacturers for crushing. Poultry farmers who find they are receiving wheat containing saffron thistle should at once tell the supplying merchant, and arrange to have the infected wheat diverted. The seed is easily recognisable. The chairman of United Wheatgrowers, Mr R. T. McMillan, has received from Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, Minister of Industries and Commerce, a reply to representations about the risk of saffron thistle becoming established in the Dominion. The Minister states that steps are being taken to ensure that badly infested lines of wheat are diverted for crushing purposes to be used in the manufacture of standard mash. Arrangements had been made, said the Minister, with the Wheat ana Flour Controller, Mr R. McPherson, that wherever possible the district officers of the Oepartment of Agriculture would be advised whenever any saffron-infected wheat was distributed within their areas. The Minister also advised that the question of declaring saffron thistle a noxious weed was being taken up with the Minister of Agriculture.

A resolution recommending that no Australian feed wheat should be sent whole to country districts was carried at a meeting of the North Canterbury executive. of Federated Farmers. Mr L. T. Wright submitted a remit from the Motukarara branch of Federated Farmers, expressing concern at the presence of saffron thistle seeds in Australian wheat imported to New Zealand. Other speakers referred to the difficulty of dressing saffron thistle seed out of the wheat, and said that the menace of the thistle seemed to be receiving inadequate attention.