EXPORT OF SEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 4

EXPORT OF SEEDS

THE FUTURE POLICY

A statement dealing with the future of export trade in agricultural seeds to Great Britain, which has been under negotiation for some time, was made by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Barclay). The Minister said that the High Commissioner in London had recently advised that for 1943 the British Ministry of Agriculture would grant import licences for all seeds normally imported and for which a market could be found, with the exception of uncertified Italian and uncertified perennial ryegrass, for which no licences would be given. It was now essential, said the Minister, for English importing firms to obtain the consent of the British Ministry of Agriculture before placing contracts abroad. Consequently New Zealand merchants must ascertain that this consent had been secured before growing contracts were arranged locally. The Ministry had requested English houses to place orders for peas early The Ministry of Agriculture was prepared to recommend in respect of seed normally disposed of by spot sale the issue of import licences for seeds from the 1943-44 harvest for quantities up to the following:—Browntop, lOOOswt; chewings fescue, 4000cwt; cocksfoot, 4000cwt; certified Italian ryegrass. 3000 cwt; certified perennial ryegrass, 3000 cwt; crested dogstail. 2500cwt; certified broad red clover, 250cwt; suckling clover, 500cwt: certified white clover, SOOOcwt; certified Montgomery red clover, lOOOcwt According to crop and unforeseen contingencies, said the Minister, these amounts could be subject to alteration. Mr. Barclay added that in view pi the quantities of these lines normally exported to Great Britain, the policy outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture must be considered satisfactory to growers and merchants in New Zealand.