THE FARMERS' PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1803, 16 July 1913, Page 6

THE FARMERS' PARLIAMENT.

In his address at the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday, the Dominion President, Mn. J. G. Wilson, stated that those who have taken a 1 leading pare 111 the Union, when they look back upon the work done and things achieved, will not be dissatisfied with the '"influence it has exer.ted in moulding the destinies of the country. Mb. Wilson might, without exaggeration, have paid a much higher tribute to the work which the Farmers' Union has done for New Zealand,'and no one man has. done more than he has himself for the' improvement of our agricultural methods and the betterment of the lot of the country settler. The President yesterday gave a most instructive and comprehensive survey of the present position of the various industries immediately connected with the land, and also referred to savcral other matters which have a direct bearing upon the welfare of the country settler. Mn. Wilson can speak with authority on these questions, for ho is ablo to bring to beai' on them a first-hand practical knowledge, and also has a thorough acquaintance with tho theoretical and educational aspects of the work of the farmer. The science of agriculture is probably still in its infancy; at any rato it has not yet said its last word—far from it. In almost every civilised country provision is made for scientific research, and every year important discoveries are being made, —e practical application of which is continually increasing the productivity of the soil_ and improving the quality of agricultural and dairy produce.. New Zealand must keep abreast of the most progressive nations in this respect, and cannot afford to neglect those educational needs of tho farmer to which Mn. Wilson drew, attention in his address. Any help the State may give by establishing and equipping agri-. cultural colleges, and providing expert instruction in other ways is sure to be amply .repaid. A few days ago Sir Walter" Buchanan, in the course of a very interesting speech, drew attention to what Canada is doing to equip her farmers to outstrip their competitors in the race for the world's markets. Ho visited some of the principal agricultural colleges and experiment farms, and was much impressed by the manner in which science was being brought to bear on every hand. The result is plainly seen in the high ■quality of the article produced. New Zealand is doing something to provide agricultural education for her settlers, but the pace must be quickened. The present Government has given evidence that it is fully alive to the supreme importance of the farming industry, and has placcd the effective occupation of the land in the forefront of its programme. The establishment of a Board of Agriculture is a step in advance, and may be expected to be followed by good results; but the Government cannot stop there. They must go steadily forward, and conferences of country settlers like those arranged by the Farmers' Union should exercise a powerful influence in indicating the best lines of advance, and keeping the needs of the agricultural community continually before Ministers and members of Parliament. A constant pressure of well-informed opinion of this character is essential if the interests of the man on the land arc to receive the attention to which they are entitled by reason of their importance from a national point of view.