SEED TICK DANGER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16542, 28 September 1921, Page 11

SEED TICK DANGER.

RISK TO DOMINION. The danger of introducing seed tick into the Dominion with consignments of paspalum seed from Queensland or from North Coast district of New South Wains, at present comprising the Now Bomri Wales tick infestation area, constitutes a possible risk to stock owners in New Zealand., says the “ Now Zealand Herald.” Hitherto the position has been met by an arrangement with tbo New South Wales Government officials, whereby all Queensland seed was effectively fumigated before being sent on to New Zealand from Sydney. A second fumigation, was given by th© Department of Agriculture after the seed reached New Zealand, in order to make doubly certain. The Department is of opinion, however, that there 13 a risk of consignments being sent by sea- from Brisbane to Sydney, and transhipped in Sydney harbour to a vessel bound for New Zealand, the fumigation process consequently not being carried out in Australia. The Department is not satisfied that one fumigation only would ensure ausoluto safety in the case of seed from infected districts, so- it has had regulations drawn up prohibiting the importation into the Dominion of grass seed ior sowing from Queensland or from tho New South Wales tick-infestation quarantine area. These regulations nave recently been gazetted. Iho majority of the paspalum seed imported into the Dominion is produced m 5‘ Iea 1 71 districts in New South Wales, and the prohibition of Queensland! grown seed will not hamper farming operations in Now Zealand.