“WHAT NEW ZEALAND NEEDS”

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 42, 13 November 1926, Page 10

“WHAT NEW ZEALAND NEEDS”

Sir,—Your correspondent G. F. Moore- deserves the best- thanks, of all New Zealanders for his letter under the above heading in your issue of November 5, where he. questions the proposed expenditure ot £300,000 on an agricultural ’college. . . ; ..... _ ’ Mr. Moore’s opinion on New Zealand farmers and their, methods will, no doubt, come as a surprise to many farmers and the public generally, but coming from such an authority it must carry a good deal of weight; personally, I agree with every word he says. . i <ani not a farmer*, but. in traveling around New. Zealand and observing ■farms, farmers and their methods one cannot help coming to the conclusion . that Mr. Moore is right whemhe says “the majority of farmers of this country do not know even the first principles of good fanning.” I believe he has indicated the two main lines to be tackled (1) improvement of qual- : ity of stock; (2) a soil survey and its attendant consequences if ? suits from- the land are to be obtained In regard to the first point there is no doubt there : are on many dairy farms men and women who are working nay, almost slaving, and who : with the cattle they are using, will continue slaying and wiU never mak ends meet. They would be better off with half and sometimes one third in numbers of the. stock: they are carrying and? would-get better, results ; vided the quality of their stock was right. “ If' is' no -use blaming ■ the market, control boards, coal strikes or shinning companies, to mention a few of the most' popular excuses, for their want of success. There are .men who have the- -right stock.: and who treat it- well by looking after their land and feed who will-continue, to make dancing pav, eveil“at the-preent compara-tive-low prices:' They . have realued that it' is production that counts. Tins can only be obtained by using, the best of materials arid .the most efficient methods. The sensible farmer realises that the lower the price to the consumer the bigger the demand will be and he can make up for his lower nrices by'more production. . For many vears this was regarded as theory but the success , of at least one well-known motor ■" manufacturer lias made It an established, fact. ■ ■ ■ _ There is an old erv “land values are too high, they must come down. Laudvalues have' always been bought too high even in “the good old days but I believe that with a climate^ such as we possess, the majority of- farms m New Zealand could be worked to show a handsome profit even at their, pre-, sent values. There may be exceptions but if properly looked into it would be found that the price of the land was a very small factor m its nonSU polnt" 2. Soil survey. It seems incredible that after all these years and all that has been spent by the Agricultural Department; no proper survey has been made of the soil of a country whose very existence depends on the fruits of the soil. One h a 9; onlv to visit farms where the soil is treated scientifically and on where it is not to see what results can be obtained. It is gratifying to notice that at the inaugural meeting of the committee of scientific research the chairman noted the two points brought out by Mr. Moore as those which: appeared to be most urgent. They are the only points and it is hoped they will concentrate on them and get results.- .'■■'.. ' . I feel sure that the necessary instruction for farmers to obtain the results from an improvement in the quality of stock .and Jlie better use of their land can be achieved by some such scheme as outlined by Mr. Moore, and at a much le®s ex cnse than the formation of college. There is on* quwuwi. I would like to ask .the supßP rter6 t,le college: Are you satisfied that the farmers of New Zealand lasv ‘ used to the fullest advantage alt present facilities made available them to develop their stock and Find to the highest degree? If P®* 1 0116 niore question: What is tlie.wse providing a college course for jnose vet acquainted with an elementary course ?—I an’, etC ” ' " ’’FACTORIES.