PRODUCE SALE AND IMPORTATION BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 303, 16 September 1908, Page 3

PRODUCE SALE AND IMPORTATION BILL.

♦ COMPULSORY CLEANING OF SEED. (BY TE«XGU Al*n — JMCHSS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurcli, September 15. Local seed merchants speak guardedly iu regard to the Agricultural Produce Sale and Importation Bill, and state that they know little of the measure, but they agree that some of the seed sold in New Zealand is "dirty" arid infested with weeds. A num-ber-of'thorn stated that imported seeds were generally fairly free from weeds. Mr. C. 11. . Hewlett, of the Canterbury .Seed Company, said that a lot of seed containing impurities came to New Zeajand, and the importers had to clean it, but somo of tho local seed was very bad. Tho Canterbury farmers were worse than tho North Island farmers. They purchased quantities of seed from their neighbours, and used it without its having been cleaned at. all. Tho fanners should be the very people to sow tho best seed, but they frequently took very poor stuff. The machinery in Canterbury was of the most up-to-dato pattern, and the cleaning should be good; Mr. J. F. Wachsmann, another seed merchant, said that ho: thought that tho Bill should aim more n,t local seeds than' at imported. seeds, which were very clean, being machine-dressed and purchased by the importers after tho approval of a sample. If tho bulk did not come up to sample the importers refused it. They had to import seeds to meet the demands of the farmers after a short season. The idea of making tho cloaning of seed compulsory was a good one, but he would not like to say anytning 'further until he knew on what lines the Bill had been drawn. Mr. R. A. Joseph also stated _ that he would like to read the Bill before giving any lengthy opinion on it. Imported seeds were usually very clean, according to price. He thought that the Government should take. drastic ; steps against tho sale of colonial seeds that were not clean. Tho selling ol seed containing weeds did great mischief, and certainly the Government should see that the people soiling seed with Californian thistle' in it should bo-made responsible for 1 their misdeeds. -Ho would be quite willing, to forward his views to Messrs. Shirtcliffe and Miles if ho knew. what.the Bill meant. They might be advocating quito a different mea.sure from one that ho would favour! DUNEDIN OPINION. Dunodin, September 15, ! A special meeting of tho committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held to-day to receive a deputation with reference to tho Ag-. ricultural Produce Sale and Importation. Bill. After hearing the; deputation it was unanimously resolved to forward a telegram' to the Prime Minister, the Hon. R. M'Nab, the Hon. Dr. Findlay, : members -of the Upper House, and Messrs; T. Mackenzie, J. Allen, and Malcolm, M.P.'s,,asking that' consideration bo deferred until such timo as further information can bo obtained and a more workable measure introduced.