SEEDS FOR CROPS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21201, 26 August 1940, Page 9

SEEDS FOR CROPS

HOME PRODUCTION DEPARTMENTAL SUPERVISION MERCANTILE FIRMS TO ACT (By Telegraph.—Press Association) ‘ WELLINGTON, Saturday A production and distribution scheme for brassica and similar seeds was announced last night by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, who said the scheme would fill a vital need of the farming community and lead to the establishment on a permanent basis of production of these seeds. In the past the New Zealand farmer largely depended on Britain for the supply of farm seeds, but for some years the Agricultural and Scientific Research Departments had been investigating the possibility of producing these seeds locally.

With existing conditions in Europe, said the Minister, the export from Britain of certain seeds was not permitted and a regular supply of other seeds was uncertain. In the interests of the farmers, arrangements had been made for the production of these seeds locally under the official supervision of the Agricultural Department, and arrangements had also been made for rape, mangold, turnip and swede seeds.

The scheme, which had the approval of the Grain and Seed Merchants’ Federation, provided for the department appointing certain mercantile firms to arrange the production orn contract of the various seeds to be grown, each firm to sible for the production of a particular section of the seeds required, and tc act on behalf of the seed trade generally as producer and wholesale distributor. Prices and the allocation of seed would come under departmental jurisdiction.