DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Chronicle (Levin), 16 August 1946, Page 6

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Department of Agriculture: £1,700,749 (£1,49.j,U03). Tlie vote inciudes the preparation and distribution of the Jourual oi" Agriculture £40,000 (£34,095 ), irrigation reseurch and experimentul stalion, Caiiterbury £35,000 (new item), ilax production subsidy (£15,000 (previousiy charged to war expenses). Three items wiuch were previousiy cliarged under this vote but which this year appear under tlie lieading of economic stabilisation, are tiie carriage of iime, portion of the freight rates on fertilisers, aud portion of the freight rates on farm products. Thc respective amounts last year were £228,301, £192,043 and £83,047. New items this, year are serpentine development Nortli Island £10,000, Boutli Lsland £180U, services vegctiiblo production £14,500. fliese wero previousiy charged to war expenses. There are also new items of £19,000 for emergency inilk supplies in drouglit arcas, £4. >(1,250 for the purchase and erection of inilk treating house, acquisition oi' vending interests and incidental expenses, £17,700 for reimi/urscment of vendors i'or amounts paid lo locai authorities as levy 011 milk. 1 bcientilic aud industriai research: £004.7(50 (£410,131), including an increase of £7(i,i)00 i'or research invostigatioiis and £55,808 (£18,000) for the pur-.-liase of instruments for the Domiuion iTiysical Laboratory. There is£4230 for tlie Apia Observalory (previousiy mainittined by tlie Air Department). Mines Department: £130,595 (£95,4!»3 ; ineiudiug the search for and production of gold and other minerals £48,500 (£35,791). Transport Department: £ISo,879 (£135,593) including safety education £9750 (£1471). Industries and Commerce: £050,331 £1,193,015). Tlie deerease is due to tlie transfer of tlie wlieat subsidy (see economic stabilisation). There is a sum of £138.294 for food c.ontrol and rationing (previousiy charged to war expenses) and £42,330 for the maintenanee of trade offices overseas, most of this item lieing previousiy charged to war expenses. Tourist and Health Resorts (previous- ; 1 v Tourist and Publicity): £303.110 i (£308,522). The vote inciudes £10,000 j for mainteiuiuee and repairs at Tonya- ! riro National Park compared with £7 ! last year. There is £5000 for liousing 1 construction for the stall' nt tourist reI sorts and £J 0,000 (£0728) for new buildi ings and iiiiprovoniouts at Mt. Cook, Te { Anau, Queenstown. Alilt'ord ►Souud, etc. ! Health Department: £3,277,791 (£3,i (Continued 011 Page 7)