AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIONS

THE SCHEME IN OTAGO ; ./' BIEMBERS ASK FOR GOVERNMENT ■ASSISTANCE An appeal for Government assistance . for. agricultural competitions, on the '.. . Enes; that'have been advocated in tho columns of The Dominion, was made by ft deputation of Otago members of Parliament,' who'waited upon tho now Min- ', ■ ister for Agriculture (Hon. AY*. Nos.worthy). . Mr: T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) said that the deputation wanted to emphasise the importance of agricultural competi- '• .tions for boys. It was a fact.that in the United State; an enormous increase ? 'of productiveness had been secured by i jmeans of such competition? and the inthat nccoinpanied them. Tho , Americans had evolved several competitions. scheme was to engage young ■;'.'■ people, chiefly boys, in the competitive ;.'■ .growing of produce, roaring of stock, etc., i;.:on'fixed areas of the homo farms. This

y . j .was not to be confused with the cornel petitions , arranged among children on v.yschool pfots. Tho effect of. competition ■; among the young people on the farms ,was' particularly good from every point >■ ■■ of • new;■; Tho boys were given a now !. ; interest in their work and a new nni" ' of it. They were encour- ; \ 'aged to stay on tho land, and they were ■ : Bnown the value of scientific cultivation.

■_'.- ; ; ■. .vlhe idea, said Mr. Sidey, was that the ' ( ', yoiing people who took part'in these- :.-. [Competitions should bo allowed to receive _•_.'■ .whatever the net profits were from the | ■ Crop that they produced, or whatever . ' else they, competed for. The schemo was i: .:pui on absolutely commercial lines. In- >, appointedfto tench the :■'-'!boys -the-latest methods, and to give ..;'' practical ' demonstrations. This system K- ~Jn the United-States had been not only . [the means of training boys as future : farmers, but had been the "means of the ■ (parents -themselves adopting improved - (methods of working their farms; and it - been a great succefs. The Otago :_■ ItEKpansion League-had instituted a scheme •on somewhat similar lines, .and lie be-

: , "ilie_Ted-.it would bo a good thing if other ' .'leagues throughout tho Dominion adopt- ;..; 'ed-..-a similar scheme. Soine encouragev {mer.t should .be given to develop the ;•■'■ |id_«u.throughout the country. If that :•■ ItfiJrerdoiie;: probably oho instructor would :■ ~'.be;..';required.._for each provincial ditsrict. ;_ (The. deputation's particular request was ■.. ! that tho. Government should assist the ._ jleague by way of a subsidy. The league .'■ ma&'not. asking for a straight-out grant. „-' w lt was not' asking the Department to ' ,__>ay;:tho whole of tlio salary of an in.Jstructor,- but- simply to give a subsidy . |of,J!-.for £ to tho league's contributions. . jlf 'this scheme wore going to be 6atisfac- ;', itorily carried out, instructors were want1, ed. -He. would ask that the Minister ':'-. should assist the Otago Expansion League .'■' /by'eiibsidisihg the salary in. order to *• -;enr»blo thcleague to obtain a satisfactory •'instructor.,. ; >:.>

pther members of. the deputation strong•ly" supported' the request made by Mr. 6idey.-;They stnted they were satisfied [that, the: agricultural competitions were (going to/b? a great factor for good in 'the country-districts . and also in tho cities..

'-The Minister, in reply, said that he would give tho request his careful consideration. He realised that everything .that could'<be done to increase tlie pro.duetiyity of the Dominion ought to have trie support of the Government. ' The I movement, for, the extension of tho agricultural' competitions in-New Zealand had his sympathy, and it would hare tho attention of himself and the officers of lis Department. He lyouM see that the matter was thoroughly investigated in Department might learn vhat could be done on the lines suggested t>y tho deputation.