1.—12 a.

8

G. SHIETCLIPFR.

86. You say there is a difficulty in knowing , the country from whence the seed comes. You buy largely from London? —Both London and local. 87. And have you no idea where the seed is grown?—No, very often not. In most cases I should say the seed is bought on cable. We have samples sent out to us by mail, and then we cable Home ordering on the samples. We are sufficient judges of seed to say whether the particular sample is going to suit our trade or not. We do not know where the seeds are purchased, and I should say more often than not the vendor at the other end does not know. 88. Your agent at Home should know? —No. 89. I was in the seed trade there for a time, and the agent usually knew where it was grown? —They may sometimes, but I am quite sure not always. 90. Well, as to the question of samples being drawn, 1 know that is a difficult matter, and realize the truth of all you have said. We will endeavour to meet that as far as possible?— Thank you. 91. Regarding the sale of rib-grass and Yorkshire fog, of course those seeds can be sold. Under the Bill, of course, they come within the clause "unclean," but there is no prohibition against the sale of them? — Well, if that is made clear. 92. It is. No seed is prohibited from being sold, only you have to say whether " clean " or " unclean "I —But surely it is an anomaly. If I may be allowed to state again, you prohibit ur from selling Yorkshire fog in, say, rye-grass, and yet we can sell Yorkshire fog as a weed. 93. If you mark it clean, but when there is 25 per cent, it is unclean. You can sell Yorkshire fog so long as it is marked unclean? —But in soiling Yorkshire fog must we sell that as unclean seed? , ~ 94 Yes. The Act might perhaps be made clearer and provide that Yorkshire fog and ribgrass can be sold as such, and clean if it does not contain a larger proportion of weed-seeds than applies to the others ?—That would be quite satisfactory to us. 95. Now, in regard to the publication, you say it may mean ruining a man s business. First of all you would not suppose that the Government, unless it was a very nacrant case, would publish- but you know in connection with fertilizers that is the law now—you can publish the name of any merchant who sells that which is not up to what his certificate professed ?—But two wrongs do not make a right. . . 96 But it is not a wrong, because you may be aware there is a very great variety in fertilizers and some merchants have sold very far from their certificates?— That may be so 97. In Maine it is published regularly, and it is remarkable what it does for the good man? Jamks Erskinf Watson examined. (No. 2.) 1 The Chairman.'] What are you?—A general merchant at Invercargill. 2 Will you make a statement'to the Committee as to how you think the proposed Seeds Control Bill would operate?— Well, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I would just like to say that the matter has been very fully dealt with by the previous witness, Mr. Shirtcliffe and I feel it would be unnecessary to take up much of your time. I would like, however to draw your attention to the fact that the deputation which is here present represent the leading members of the seed trade at all the principal centres from Auckland to the Bluff. Naturally, as tins. 8,11 affects the conduct of our business it has engaged our very serious attention, and we have had meetings at the various centres— namely, Auckland, Palmerston North. Wellington, Chnstchurch, Dunedin. and Invercargill. Since then we have also had an opportunity of speaking together^herein Welling The suggestions for amending the Bill which have been detailed by Mr. Shirtcliffe have been unanimously agreed to by all the members of the deputation, representing as I say, prZtioSr the seed trade throughout New Zealand. A copy of the suggestions of the deputation will be handed i n to the Committee, and I have no doubt you will find them to be very useful.* :;r» b ,tr:t™ SSfiS* stCSs/s ess l z*. i s: M*. J • For suggestions sen end of Mr. Watson's evidenoe.