AGRICULTURE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16433, 29 January 1919, Page 7

AGRICULTURE.

REORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. INCREASED ASSISTANCE TO 1< iRMERS. a comprehensive scheme. Asked yesterday by a representative of "Tho Press" regarding the reorganisation of tho Department of Agriculture, the Hon. \V. D. S. MaeDonald, Minister of Agriculture, mado a statement describing tho objects aimed at by the reorganisation, not only of the Department of Agriculture but also of the Industries and Commerce portion of it. Tho proposals, somo of which are being given effect to at present, will bo seen, to bo very far reaching. I Tho reorganisation proposals, tho Minister said, were as follows: — (1) Decentralisation of control of stock rabbit, and noxious weeds, and establishment of district control; four main districts, two in each Island, to be established tor this purpose. (2) Co-ordination of work of inspection of stock, noxious weeds, and rabbits, with a view to avoid waste of energy, as is caused by two men of different divisions doing work which could well be done by one. All this inspection work, therefore, will bo carried out by one staff of inspectors, who, while doing what is necessary in the way of inspection will combine with it advice and assistance to farmers genorally, so far as they are able. (3) The establishment or an organised system of agricultural instruction, adapted to the present and future needs of farmers, this to be co-ordinated with experimental \vork at the State farms and elsewhere, and conducted on linos calculated to assist farmers, especially in— (a) Improved methods of breeding and management of dairy cows and other live stock. (b) Increased production of cereals and all animal food crops. (c) Improvement of pastures. (d) Bringing into prontable uso inferior land. (o) The prevention of disease in stock and all pests in farm, orchard, and growing crops, together with the method of combating these when present. (4) The encouragement of local enterprise in tue direction of establishing uemonstration iarins, managed ana controlled by committees ol local tanners, with Government representation on ttie committee, and supported by Government subsidies. (6) liie state farms to be conducted on the following lines: A suliicient area for tlie purpose to be set aside for experimental work, tiiis work to be planned out on lines calculated to elucidate new facts, and obtain general new information in the direction of enabling farmers to increase production, and also to improve the standard of quality of their products; the balance of tho farm to be conducted as a demonstration farm in modern up-to-date methods, and to be made profitearning. It is considered that these portions of the State farms should alford farmers valuable object lessons in the best methods of carrying out farm practice on commercial lines. Separate accounts will be kept for each portion of the farm, and balance-sheets prepared for each year. _ Arrangements for training lads on the farms in sound, practical, up-to-date farming practice will be continued on improved lines. (6) District experimental plots to be worked under a systematio organisation, and to bo established where necessary to supplement experimental work carried out on the Government farms.

(7) All special laboratory work to be concentrated at Wallaceville, as soon as arrangements permit of the necessary additional buildings being erected and equipped for accommodating: (1) Bacteriologist and pathologist} (2) Biologist; (3) Agricultural chemist. These officers to be each directly responsible to the Director-General, and to carry out: (a) Research and investigations; (b) Laboratory work, as required, for all branches of the Department. (8) The dairy produce division, which is already doing excellent work, to remain as 'at present, but as opportunity offers facilities for extending its usefulness to be provided. (9) The work of the horticultural division to be thoroughly gone into, with a view to affording facilities for increasing its usefulness to those engaged in the fruit industry. (10) The work of the Department in connexion with the poultry industry to remain under the control of the Director of the Live-Stock Division, and to be extended in the direction of aiding the further commercial development of this industry. (11) Closer supervision over the grading of flax, and the development | of the Department's activities. in aitt-: ing those engaged in the flax industry' in combating practical difficulties arising in connexion with their operations. (12) A capable officer to be appointed to deal with the "Industries and Commerce" responsibilities of the Department, he, for the present, to confine his activities to the following duties: (a) Keeping in close touch with and maintaining records of market conditions in respect of live stock and all classes of farm, orchard, and garden produce in New Zealand. (b) Obtaining and recording all available information regarding market conditions for New Zealand produce in other countries, particularly from the point of view of preparing for trading operations after peace is declared. (c) Obtaining and recording all available information regarding methods of production, handling, and marketing of produce in countries competing with New Zealand in the sale of produce in the world's markets. (13) The abolition of separate division oilice staffs at headquarters in Wellington, and the substitution of one clerical staff to serve the whole. This will involve the concentration of all the divisional directors, together with the director-general, in the one set of offices, and an endeavour to obtain suitable premises is being made. Steps are now being taken, the Minister continued, to put the above proposals into force, and the amalgamation of stock, rabbit, and noxious weeds inspectors is already well under way. . The matter of agricultural lnstrai--I tion is receiving special attention, but under present conditions opportunities ' for strengthening the staff by _ the addition of suitable men, combining a sound knowledge of scientific agriculture with a sound practical knowledge of farming, are lacking, but in the meatnime an interim or f.?. m n °,i} is being established which will do all that is possible in agricultural instructional work for the time being The matter of co-operation with the University authorities in training suitable young men in scientific is being gone into, and it is hoped hat in a comparatively. s,lort .. n ', sound, up-to-date jnstruc - will be available to assist producers in S; Hi agrfcuhtural°' and p°atS the Department mas b<» as^umeaW

in materially increasing the prosperity of the Dominion. It is hoped that the development of the Department's activities will, with the assistance of farmers, be on lines of decreasing the necessity for inspection work, and enabling the energies of inspectors to be devoted more and more, as time goes on, to advising and assisting farmers in overcoming the many difficulties have to meet in carrying out their operations.