BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 36, 6 November 1920, Page 8

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

QUESTION OF RURAL EDUCATION CONSIDERATION OF WOOL POSITION 1 The Board of Agriculture mot in W e l- ' lington this Sir James Wilson preof members! WM * 2 ttendttl «» With inference to rural education, Dr. ~ * I{cal v- s > Director-General of Acrfculture, reported that the recommendations wit i regard to this subject that the board had made to tho Council of Agriculture had been subsequently brought forward and discussed at a ctmterence called in Wellington between tlw Agriculture and Education Departments, liie gathering had endorsed most of the suggestions that had been made by the board. Steps had been talc,lll to define the sphere of action of the olficf.rs of hotli Departments. It had been decided that I'he instructors of tlip education boards should deal with rural education 111 the. primary, .secondary, and technical schools; while the officers of the Department of Agriculture should undertake the practical farm training of tk> farmers and of the boys who had left school. Pending the securing of a sufficient number ol instructors to meet requirements, tlifc officers and instructors of the two Departments should work in cooperation: Stops wero also taken to provide for the training of more instructors in the various branches of agriculture, both for tho Department of Agriculture mid for the Education Department. It was urjjed that facilities for teaching the subjects'required for the B.A. pass in agricultural science and for advanced agricultural science for the B.Sc degree, should be proviilnd nt each of the university colleges; and, further, that increased encouragement should be given to students at the training colleges, who showed a special aptitude for agricultural work, .to proceed to an agricultural college to complete their training. It had also been agreed between the two Departments that a bureau of information and guidance should be established to induce lads from secondary and technical schools, as well as teachers and otherpersons, to pursue a course s of study in agriculture aiid to advise them concerning the steps they should take. Agricultural Clubs. Dr. lteakrs stated that the conference had also endorsed the recommendation of the board that stpps should bo taken to initiate agricultural clubs for boys and girls, in various parts of New Zealand, 011 similar lines to those which had boen founit of such great service in Canada and U.S.A., in awakening an interest in improved methods of raising crops <"'d live stock. Dr. Healws stated that he would be. glad to have .the views of tho board as to tlw best methods to bring the A," and P. associations and other farmers' organisations into this movement. After some discussion, the board recommended that an organiser should bp. appointed to visit the different districts and' the A. and P. associations, etc., that wished to start' clubs in their centres, and tlfiit a sum of money should be set aside for the purpose, l'urt-lver, that the A. and P. associations be invited to co-operate in the movement by opening special classes, and offering prizes for the best animals or produce- exhibited toy members of such clubs. Tho board discussed at great length with Dr. Kealces 11 number of .suggestions that had been recehvxl with regard to the Seeds Bill, and other measures that are now before Parliament. _ It was decided to recommend the Minister of ■Agriculture to endeavour to (jet the Noxious Weeds Bill passed during the present session, as the proposed amendments were of a non-contentious nature, and the Bill would lie of great assistance to the farming community. The Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Bill ivas also fully endorsed and similarly recommended. A draft for a proposed amending Bill to control the sale of fertilisers was also discussed, but it was decided to <Ufer the final consideration of this measuto until the next meeting of tho board to enable further inquiries to be made. Dr. R-eakes gave tbfe board all the facts concerning the arrangements up to date mado in connection with Nauru ■ alid O&onn Islands. Wool Prices. At a subsequent meeting, the board conferred with the committee that had been appointed at the conferences held to consider the various problems in connection- with the disposal and shipping of meat, wool, and other New Zealand produce. Dr. licakes, chairman of this committee, stated that after a lengthy and careful discussion of the various aspects of the wojl question, ill had been decided to draw up a report sotting out the whole position, and this would lw published in a fow days, so that growors would Ve able to grasp the whole situation. Tho tone of ijie discussion was of a hopeful character, though tho need of caution aiul the necessity for not depreciating market values by -panicky selling was strongly emphasised'. Tho question of finance was discussed at length, and after hearing the whole of the t'ac'r- of the position the lioard came to the conclusion thnt the opinion of the committee, that the time was uoii immediately opportune for fixing any definite basis for ! advances, was a sound one, seeing that at the present time it is impossible to form an opinion as to what will bo the actual marke l , selling values of tho various classes of wool when the new clip comos forward for sale. The board noted with satisfaction that stock and station agenis, and, it was understood, banks also, would bel willing, as heretofore, to make advances to liheir respective clients, up to such amounts us were reasonable under the circumstances, and, . having regard to the fact that the Government was prepared to stand behind the producers, the board fully coincided with i3io opinion of the committee. It seemed evident that wool-growers would provide themselves a better future outlook if they withheld their wool from i sale, in preference to soiling it nt once , 'at low figures', ospeciallr as- there was ample storage accommodation for wool . in the Dominion It was finally agreed that the British Government should bo ; requested to hold over for as long a .period as possible all stocks of Now Zealand coarse crossbred wool, until such time as the market-was more stabilised, and, further, to suggest! to the woolbrokers of the Dominion (especially those dealing with tho coarser grades of wool) that thoy should come to somoagreemeiit about tfio minimum prices, which • they would advise their clients -to accept for illicit' wool. j\fr. Perry reported thnt arrangemonts had been made for a steamer to go to Monte Video {it the ond of this month, but he was "informed that all tho deck spaco had already been taken up by a South American buyer. Dr. Kcakos was, however, inquiring wlio'.lher any of it would bs available for Now Zealand shippers desirous. of sending sheep to tho Argentine. He had been told that probably anothor steamer would be dispatched later to Valparaiso, from -which port stud sheep could bo sent overland to the Argentine; but illiai? a guarantee of at least 100 head wns required from tho shippors by the owners of the steamer. It was agreed; to make further inquiries and to advise tho owners of stud stock as to fjie position. Amongst other mattors dealt with were tho proposed importation of cliukor, or. Indian partridges, the Argentine partridge, and tho Jlartiuotto bird, for ae-climnilisat-ion purposes; and tho inothod of electing the members of tho Board of Agriculture. ' The question of organising a Royal Championship Show, to bo held alternately in ■ the North and South Islands, eo that visitors in search of stud stock would bo ablo to see the besv of the. New Zealand breeds (which had been referred to tho board, by tTic tTouncil of Agriculture), was carefully considered, and it was decided to endorse the recommendation. A sub-commitloc was set up to formulate tho best method of giving effect: to the proposal, and to draw up prizo lists tor tho champion classes.