Hokitika Guardian & Evening star WEDNESDAY. FEB. 28 1917 BACK TO THE LAND

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening star WEDNESDAY. FEB. 28 1917 BACK TO THE LAND

The sacrifices the Prime Minister oE Britain proposes to impose oj his countrymen should he something of a blessing in disguise. . The war is going to cause a great land reform in Britain, and once again we shall have in that fair land an agricultural Britain. Compulsion is to be used, if necessary, to drive the people back to the land, and once there and enjoying the pleasures and the profits of the change, it is not unlikely that the return to the old love will become permanent, and agriculture become again a stable and a staple industry. New Zealand might profit by the experience of Britain by taking time by the forelock, and appreciating that the land is the source of all wealth, so seek to ntilise it to the beat advantage so aa to derive the greatest return for the country. Mr Massey has spoken picturesquely at Home of New Zealand being “the dairy o the Empire,” as Canada is the granary, but we are reminded by a paper before us to-day that New Zealand is far out-stripped by Canada, and even to faintly emulate that great Dominion, Mr Massey, as Minister of Lands, mußt hasten back to tbe Antipodes and devote the tireless energy of a Lloyd George to a practical scheme to enable this country to come to the fore front in agricultural pursuits. The piper we have just referred to is one written by Mr A. Macpberson, Government Fields Instructor of the South Island, wherein he recounts his observations on instructional methods in regard to agriculture in the United States and Canada. Mr Macpherson did the grand tour towards the latter end of 1915, and a Parliamentary paper now discloses some of the marvellous things he saw, and the wonderful ways of doing them. He says: “ The one faot that impresses the visitor to Canada (and in a lesser degree the United States) is the enormous sum that is spent oa the education of tbe farmer and the farmer-to-be. Canada, whose prosperity is not more closely bound up in the soil than New Zealand's, is concentrating on the agricultural education of the masses (one might almost say) in a manner that oompels the warmest admiration, and is doiDg so through a variety of channels and in a way that is never opposed to a self, reliant policy. This last fact is to be noted in the encouragement of the cooperative movement and the elimination of the middleman. Money, in fact, is spent on education chiefly among those who are to be the future farmers and farmera’ wives of the Dominion ; secondly, among those who are the struggling farmers learning their own business as they go along; and, thirdly, among those, who while popularly regarded as successful farmers, have yet to learn and practice tbe finer points of scientific farming. The County Agent or Farm Demonstrator is the leaven at work in the mass of American farmers, while tl • agricultural colleges are

creating a new type of scientific farmer who takes with him to the farnj'not an accumulation of theoretical knowledge, but the experience gained in his own actual practice of methods approved by tbe highest authorities. Oae is forced to the conclusion that the steady pursuit of agricultural edaoatiou is bound to give Canada an advantage that wili outweigh in time any disadvantages that are suffered through vigorous climate and comparative difficulty of transport. In the matter of agricultural oolleges, experimental farms, and tbe general dissemination of farm k owJedge, New Zealand compared -with Canada, has hardly touched tbe surface.” In the light of the official position held by Mr Macpberson m this Dominion, his opinions and advice are worthy of every consideration. His report is a lengthy one and goes into fall details: pointing out the various schemes under which Canada is profiting. Westland is under Mr Macpherson’a official jurisdiction and following up on remarks in a recent issue, Weatlp.nd would be a very suitable locale for the Government to make a beginning in the new order of things which would contribute towards New Zealand becoming the dairy of the Empire.” -This, sea board hasbeen proved to be eminently suitable for pastoral pursuits and with the instruction Mr Macpherson could import as a Farm Demonstrator, the settlers would derive much information to advance tho dairying industry. The moment is particularly opportune to make a demand for that Departmental help and encouragement, and the opportunity should be pushed with a zeal which would at once demonstrate the earnestness of the Settlers in tha matter.