asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the numerous failures in past seasons of wheat crops where the seed was supplied by country traders and to the judgments that have been given against such traders in court, and, if so, if he will state what steps, if any, he has taken or intends to take to ensure that the seed wheat for this and future years shall not result in similar crop failures and thus guarantee the farmer and trader against loss.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seed Wheat.
I am aware that there has been a certain number of failures of wheat crops during the past few years and that in some cases the failure was alleged to be due to the seed supplied not being the variety ordered and not suitable for sowing at the particular time of year. My attention has been drawn to one case in which certain growers obtained judgment against a trader on the ground that the seed supplied was of a lower yielding variety than that ordered. To ensure as far as possible that seed wheat imported into this country is of satisfactory quality and true to name, importation permits are issued only in cases where the importer has obtained from the supplier an undertaking that the seed is of the best quality, has been purchased by name and will be invoiced under such name. The importer must also make it a condition of sale that any seed wheat purchased from him shall be resold by a purchasing trader under the name by which it is invoiced to him. It is impossible to ensure absolutely against failure of wheat or of any other crop. A case of failure of a crop may be due to a variety of causes apart from any defect in the seed sown.