ONE PHASE OF PROGRESS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 55, 12 March 1943, Page 4

ONE PHASE OF PROGRESS

AT a gathering* of the staff of the Department of Agriculture recently, Mr A. H. Cockayne, who is retiring from the position of Director-General of Agriculture after 37 years of service with the Department, was the recipient of presentations, and tributes were paid to his work. In returning thanks Mr Cockayne gave some figures that showed the remarkable progress made by the Dominion in the field of primary production since 1904. The value of dairy produce exported had risen from £1,000,000 to £20,000,000, in that time, of lamb from £1,000,000 to £11,000000 and, excluding greasy wool, the exportable surplus had increased in value from under £4,000,000 to the neighbourhood of £60,000,000. These have been the achievements of consistent effort and the application of more scientific methods of production. It has been one. of Mr Cockayne's many duties to keep before the primary producers the importance of enlisting the services of the scientist in every phase of farming operations, and in the true interests of' the Dominion the process must continue. The most important crop grown in New Zealand is grass, and the development of improved methods of grassland farming has been one of the greatest factors in the record of its progress. By means of rotational grazing and other practices carrying capacity has been improved and production advanced. At the same time more and more attention has been given to the culling and breeding of stock, and those now engaged in the work probably would be the first to admit that there is scope for still greater improvement. The output of dairy produce alone could be stepped up considerably, and without adding to the stock carried, if by culling and breeding the average butterfat production per cow were raised. The conditions created by war have ( brought many problems for the men on the land, but by a united effort, production has been well maintained. In days ahead the farmers will count confidently on the full assistance of the departmental experts in all phases of production, for it is when the knowledge of the scientist and the practical application of the farmer combine that the best results are obtained. Facing a future big with possibilities, and with world-wide problems, the Dominion knows that its economic stability must depend largely on the primary industries. The stage of dealing with virgin country and of relying largely on the natural fertility of the soil is ending, but the scope for scientific farming is widening, and this country must spare no effort to make the most of the opportunities offered. There may be limits, in the matter of quantity, though they have by no means been reached, but in the standards of quality—the factors that ensure markets —there is always room for improvement.