The Dominion MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1926. THE FARMER AND PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 8

The Dominion MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1926. THE FARMER AND PRODUCTION

A good deal of discussion has taken place recently on the subject of land settlement and increased production. Some portion of the controversy has centred round the question of the proposed Agricultural College; some of the writers on the subject have reviewed the question of scientific research; while what is known as “the practical farmer” element has poured scorn on the Agricultural College project as a waste of money, and urged closer attention to practical training. That.school of opinion which holds in light respect the work of an Agricultural College and begrudges the expenditure has failed to make out a convincing case. On the contrary, some of the contentions advanced in favour of “practical” instruction indicate ignorance concerning the work of such an institution as proposed. The assumption that an Agricultural College deals only with the theory of farming is one qf the fallacies which have grown up in farming circles through inadequate publicity or unhappily in some instances through blind prejudice. Some interesting views on the subject of farming development in New Zealand have been given publicity recently in our correspondence columns by Mr. G. F. Moore, of Bushy Park. Mr. Moore unfortunately is one of those who think that the proposed expenditure on an Agricultural College could be better spent in other directions. But though we disagree with him on this point, his opinions as to the best means of encouraging the most profitable use of our land are entitled to the highest respect. Like most men of experience on the land in this Dominion, Mr. Moore urges strongly the necessity for first ascertaining the best use to which any particular class of land can be put. The story of land settlement here is in some respects one of tragic shortsightedness. Great areas of country have been depleted of a rich forest growth, which has been squandered in smoke and flames. The land has proved unsuited to farming, and after years of unsuccessful struggle has gradually drifted back into scrub and fern waste land. ' In other cases forests have been destroyed in hill country, and the result has been flooding and destruction of wide stretches of rich flat lands with heavy loss and hardship. Mr. Moore suggests that one of the first steps that should be taken towards the solving of our land problem is a thorough investigation of the uses to which our available remaining lands should be put. Land that is most valuable as forest growth should be kept for timber purposes. Then a closer analysis should be made of the area of land which each settler can work to advantage. lhe failure or partial failure of many settlers is due in a large measure to the desire to acquire more land than the would-be owner has the financial resources to work to advantage. Because of this, much land has deteriorated and gone back to scrub and noxious growth. It is generally recognised that the three vital factors needed in our farm development are better quality stock, more extensive and more scientific use of fertilisers, and in a large number of cases smaller holdings with more intensive farming. The education of the farmer along these lines constitutes a formidable part of the problem. In spite of all that the Government has done and is doing the process of enlightenment has been slow. Expenditure of public money, which will expedite that process, is money well, spent not merely in the interests of the fanner, but of every section of the communitv.