DUTY ON COCKSFOOT.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 12

DUTY ON COCKSFOOT.

(By Telegraph.) ¥ (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUUlibAiNl>, This Day. Strong disapproval'of the suggestion made to tlio -junister o£ Agriculture by a Canterbury deputation advocating that a duty of id per ib should be imposed on imported cocksfoot seed was expressed at a specially, convened meeting oil the Auckland Seed Merchants' Association., it was decided to. forward a letter to the Mlnistur, embodying the views ot the association on tin! matter. ••it is not because cocksfoot has been imported," the. letter scales, •'that the Aka'roa coeksiool trade has declined, but uccauae other loi'ins ot farming pay better. it has is attributed to the growers' own neglect in not maintaining tne high standard which obtained when Aew Zealand commanded the world's market for cocksfoot years ago. 'lhe'Danish seed the association considers to be as pure, If not purer, than seed grown in the Dominion, ■while the germination and weight of Danish seed <is proved by official test to, be superior. Farmers in Auckland Province have many thousands of acres laid down in Danish cocksfoot, which is producing good forage, and lasting well. ' The imputation that the use of Danish seed is responsible tor the deterioration of much of the North Island pastures is considered groundless, as most of these lands were f.own -witl! Akaroa seed;bcfdre Danish importations began. "We fully approve of' the. new regulations that" imported cocksfoot seed be stained,'' continues the .letter, "as the farmer will then be sure of getting what he wants. We strongly protest, however, against any duty, as this would mean increasing the price of cocksfoot seed to many thousands of farmers for the benefit of a few hundred who, save seed." It is added that the grower is already protected to the extent of %d to 2d a lb on account o£ freight and other charges incurred in importing Danish seed. .