SEED CERTIFICATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20000, 7 January 1935, Page 6

SEED CERTIFICATION

PAYMENT OF EXCESS AREA FEES Farmers will remember that owing to adverse weather conditions experienced in South Canterbury last season, many of the crops entered for certification were destroyed. The Department of Agriculture, at the request of the Farmers’ Union, decided to waive the payment of the excess fees chargeable, b..i in November the Department issued an instruction that before the present season’s crop could be accepted for certification, the excess area fees outstanding from last season’s operations must be paid. In view of this reversal of the Department’s attitude, the Provincial Secretary (Mr D, Crosbie) took the matter up with the Minister concerned (Hon. c. MacMillan) and on Saturday morning received from him the following letter which clears the whole position:—

“I am in receipt of your letter of the 20th November in regard to the position which has arisen between my Department and a number of farmers concerning the payment of excess area fees for crops which were entered last season for certification, but which were subsequently destroyed by bad weather. “I have gone thoroughly into this matter and have to advise that, in view of all the circumstances, it has now been decided that payment of outstandin : excess area fees due by South Canterbury farmers whose crops were destroyed last year will be waived, and that non-payment of such fees will not debar the farmers concerned from having their crops accepted for certification this year. “Instructions to this effect are being issued to the district officers of the Department.”