STATE SEED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 139, 6 March 1908, Page 2

STATE SEED.

NUMEROUS APPLICANTS. • WILL THE SCHEME BE ABUSED? Although it would not be quite correct to liken the applications for State seed to a "J' U 7- lus ''>" 'hero are signs already that tho list of applicants will reach big proportions. In some instances there have been real hardships endured, and these cases Eire to bo entirely-treated yn their merits',"even to. tho extent ,of frce'.gifts of seed.., Cases, however, in which paddocks of .grass or areas of bush have been burned and no further damage done are regarded/as light cases. Tho real hardship, is _ seen - in' those cases where grass, fences, buildings, and stock were destroyed, and, for want of feed, much, of tho nmnjured stock had to be sacrificed in a deprossed market at l6w prices;. _ We have already published in these columns instances, of stout-hearted farmers "who said that, though they had' been, severe, losers by fire, they would not accept State assistance All, however, ' are apparently not of this class, .and attempts to secure grants of seed' on insufficient grounds are being vigilantly watched for.. Letters which begin, "I understand that you aro giving free grass-seed to farmers," and contain 110 proof of misfortunes from the fires, will be regarded; with' suspicion at these times. It will probably be news'to. many people that State grass-seed has been . issued to burnt-out. settlors'for many year*, past, ".'-It has been an old practice of the Agricultural Department,: in times of bush fires, to lithko it known among the immediate residents that seed for re-grassing may be .obtained from the State 011 loan,. tho State accepting' promissory, notes in return. The only difference in tho. present' case; is ,the remission of interest. .It has been' found in the' past ..that not in a single., instance has the assisted 1 settler ever failed, to repay the loan/ Even in this prosaic matter of . the lending' of grass- , seed, there have,been.amusing incidents. In one case, some settlers who inquired as to the conditions, were ; surprised to find tlu>t tho price, of the, seed had. to 'be repaid by them indub time. , They ..thereupon withdrew their claims, observing, that tliey would rather buy ,it _ rigbt' out, ;as they had' plenty (if money in 'tlie bank. It, is not for such men, that the scheme is; intended, but rather for those whose' available cash is sadly needed for restocking or repairing their properties. , Numerous; applications are now bein,*. received by the Commissioners of Crown Lands iii 1 the'various districts, and surveyors lime been'taken off other work to verify '.he'requirements. Everything reasonable w'lwina' done to .expedite delivery, but with; such a huge undertaking settlers must not, expect delivery by "return post." It will lie wipifor settlers to send in their orders well ahead of tho time whon they .will need to gow, to avoid disappointment. Owing to the uncertain level of market prices just how. quotations vary from day to day, which incurs ■ further delay. No.doubt the return of'moist' 1 weather will. set. many farmers thinking of their seed requirements. The Hon. R. M'Nab, Minister for Lands, states that the amount of money, available for the 1 purpose .is not limited; it depends'. oii the extent of the , need, and chat cannot yet be definitely determined. : ', •