SEED GROWERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22313, 24 April 1947, Page 6

SEED GROWERS

DISTRICT NEEDS TO MEET MINISTER NUCLEAR RYE CONTRACT Three matters of importance to farmers on the Gisborne fiats will be taken up with the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. E. L. Cullen, during his visit to Gisborne early next week by a deputation from the newly-formed small seeds sub-section of the agricultural section of the Federated Farmers. Strong representations will be made for an allocation of nuclear ryegrass seed for Gisborne, for the eradication of the red-legged earth mite from the district, arid for a speeding up of the germination and purity test returns from the seed testing station at Palmerston North. On Tuesday night at the MakarakaMatawhero Hall the small-seeds men appointed Messrs. S. D. Briant and Stuart McGuinness, with power to add, lo state their case. During a lengthy discussion on the merits of nuclear ryegrass and the advantages of having an allocation granted growers in this district, Mr. Briant said there had been a feeling among growers that the provincial executive of the Federated Farmers had "let them down.” At a meeting of growers on December 10, 1940, the Federated Farmers had agreed to take up the question and press for an allocation for the district. Growers had felt that their interests were not getting the attention they should. Nothing further had been heard concerning the federation’s attempts to secure the allocation for Gisborne. Mr. Briant said he had since learned of a friend who had secured £BO per acre from nuclear rye in Palmerston North.

Mr. Briant also asked what steps had been taken by the federation to discourage the growing of H-l ryegrass in Gisborne? Time to Push Again "So far as the growing of H-l is concerned the matter was disposed of at that meeting,” said the provincial president, Mr. C. IT. Williams. "Federated Farmers could take no further action until the question was brought forward through the small seeds section, and that section was not formed.” Mr. Williams explained that the nucleai ryegrass allocation had been Ihe subject of correspondence between the federation and the Department of Agriculture. The request had been refused in the meantime, but it was not the intention of the federation to let the matter rest at that. “This is the type of meeting that gives us a handle to push with," said Mr. Williams. “We have been definitely refused contracts in the meantime and now is the time to get pushing again. It is necessary to put up a cast-iron ease.” District Dressing Plants Mr. H. Miller suggested that small seeds growers in Gisborne should "put their house in order” before applying for nuclear rye, as Gisborne did not have the machinery to handle the contracts and keep the seed clean. Mills and dressing plants in the district were utilised for all types of seed in the season, and he maintained that the deputation to the Minister would be set a difficult task. Mr if. H. Duds said Hawke's Bay did not have special dressing plants and mills lo deal with nuclear seed alone, Mr. Millet; No. but they are under Government supervision. Mr. Dods: They are under Government supervision here. Mr. Hunter Witters said ne had shown several commercial men from outside over the district during recent weeks and they had all said Gisborne was the best growing district in New Zealand. There was not the frost experienced in other parts of the Dominion and. in fact, "Gisborne was just getting on the map.” Although there was no discussion on the infestation of red-legged mite, the meeting was unanimous that the subject should be taken up with Mr. Cullen. In support of the inclusion of the request for a speed-up in Ihe handling of seed-testing, Mr. Briant said that results of the tests now look a month to six weeks to return to Gisborne, whereas previously germination and purity tests took only two weeks.