SMALL SEEDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26750, 20 April 1948, Page 4

SMALL SEEDS

EXPORT TO BRITAIN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS PARTIAL RELAXATION Daily Times Special Service CHRISTCHURCH, Apl. 19. Weeks of speculation on the part of grain and produce merchants and small-seeds producers throughout the Dominion as to the outcome of the negotiations for the lifting by the British Government of the import restrictions on clover and other small seeds were ended to-day. According to the Department of Agriculture, the British Government has approved import licences for several lines of small seeds grown in the Dominion but these are subject to “ severe restrictions.” In a cabled message received from its London representative, Mr G. Holmes, the department was advised that in the case of mother white clover, suckling clover and lupins, import licences had been granted up to 100 per cent, of the orders booked by British importers, and for P.P. white clover, 60 per cent. A drastic cut has been imposed on permanent pasture perennial ryegrass, the quantity to be allowed into Great Britain being only 30 per cent, of the orders booked and in the case of mother seed, 60 per cent.

The quantities of dogstail and fescue allowed are 50 per cent, and 25 per cent, respectively and for short rotation ryegrass (HI) a total of “ 10 tons above the figure obtained from importers as their average importations.” Mr Holmes has also advised his department that merchants in the United Kingdom are to meet representatives of the British Government within the next few days to discuss the situation further. The interpretation placed on this statement by New Zealand exporters is that the British importers are dissatisfied with the position and are seeking increases in some of the allocations.