SOME QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 25

SOME QUESTIONS.

WHAT ARE TOUR WANE?

CONTRIBUTIONS INVITED FROM

FARMERS.

In the centre of.this pago is set out a series of questions which country readers of The Dominion are invited to answer. Tho farmer is frequently told what outsiders think should' be done for him: ho is now invited to tell tho publio what he himself desires most to see done to forward his interest. The replies received to tho questions will be sorted out in The Dominion office, and published either in full or in summarised form. As Parliament will in a few days be in session this will afford country residents a convenient means of impressing upon members tho especial requirements of their districts and of farmers in general.

The answers may bo cither brief or long, but it is desired to obtain something more than cryptic "Yes" or "No," and to get practical suggestions under each heading as to what might be done to improve conditions. If you don't want to answer all the inquiries, do not let that prevent you from sending in replies to tlioso that interest yon.'

Tho replies should be addressed: "The Editor, Thk Dominion, Wellington."

It may be explained that a number of the questions are modelled on those which tho United States Commission on Country Life, set up a few years ago by President Roosevelt, sent out to 550,000 farmers and country residents.- The American farmer was quick to seize tho opportunity which presented itself for arousing a wider public • interest in the needs of country dwellers, and the work of tho Commission has led to the gradual development of .national interest in America in the problems of rural life as a whole —not the problem only of making farming pay, but of increasing the attractions of the' country and stopping tho steady drift of population into the towns. farmer will not be behindhand in re-

sponding", but will fully avail himself of i The Dominion's columns to state in what direction he considers the community can best aid him, and help to build up a richer and fuller life for tho country dwellers of this Dominion.. The way in. which the country life movement has been taken up in America may be gauged from information to hand by" the English mail a , few days ago. Elsewhere in this issue is a lengthy extract from Sir Horace Plunket's book, "The Rural Problem, in tho United "States." In that book'a suggestion was thrown out that the Americans, having taken stock of rural conditions at home, might now well appoint a commission of inquiry to visit Europe, and see what can be learned from the methods in vogue there, particularly in tho way of building up farmers' co-operative societies of all kinds. Sir Horace Plunket is not an American, but is the foremost authority on agriculture in Ireland. In America, however, ho is fully recognised as the great constructive reformer he unquestionably is, and the "Westminster Gazette" states that it is clear from the events that led up to the appointment of the Commission that liis influence has had a kTgo share in bringing the inquiry about. The whole scheme, the "Gazette" adds, bears the Impress of his thought, as expressed.in his book, "The Rural Life Problem of the United States." The papers published in connection with the Commission's work show that he has been consulted by the • present President of the United States, Dr. Woodrow Wilson, by his predecessor, Mr. Taft, and by exPresident Roosevelt. These three eminent men, so lately engaged in a threecornered struggle each against the other' two, have united in blessing tho work which is about to be begun. This incident is mentioned hero to show the eagerness with which America— already ahead of us—is seeking to raise the standard of farming and of comfort of tho farm, and the consequent need for us in New Zealand to be at least equally alive, to our opportunities.