Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, NOV. 27th 1917. PROMISES AND PERFORMANCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, NOV. 27th 1917. PROMISES AND PERFORMANCES.

Thk annual report of the Department >f Agriculture is before us, and we have looked in vain for any comforting reference to the establishment of an ! experimental farm in this district in fulfilment of the definite promises from successive Ministers on the matter, 'fiie report is a very full one, indicating by the scope and work of the Department that very excellent work must he done, in respect to agricultural development all over the Dominion—excepting in neglected Westland. Here, for instance, is a nice rounded paragraph appearing over the Minister’s signature on the experimental farm subject, hut containing only tree words of cold comfort for Westland: “Still in view”:—“The Department’s experimental farms in other districts “will operate in due co-ordination with “Weraroa, although specialization in “certain directions will be given scope “at the former stations. It as also very “probable that the fine establishment, “at Ruakura may he used largely in “connection with the training of returned soldiers, and later on, when “the country has settled down again to “normal conditions, for teachers ana “others, in co-operation with the Education authorities. The development “of the Ashburton Experimental Farm “has established the Department’s field “experimental work in middle Cantcr“bury on a good footing, and similar “experimental or demonstration farms •‘for other Month Island districts are in “view.” This “still in view” concession is too had from a Minister of Mr MacDonald’s professions and standing. Tf he were not the Libetal we know ,him to he, we should say he had got back to the had old days of do-nothing Conservatism, when everything in Westland was kept “steadily in view” bv Ministers. Surely Mr. MacDonald since rubbing shoulders with the hon. colleagues from the other side of the Bouse has not taken the anti-Westland* vims also! But it appears so. Mr. MacDonald when here was PI of promises—but as for performances the best we can hope for apparently is “still in view. Pursuing this blue-hook record of the institution further, we next come upon this high faultin paragraph over the signature of the Secretary to the many-manned public Departments:— “The establishment of experimental “farms or similar experimental areas “in parts of the Dominion not yet “catered for in this way also demands “attention. Negotiations are already “in progress in regard fo an experimental farm for the west roast of the “Mouth Island and something definite “in this direction ,is certainly called for “in the case of Otago. Concerning “smaller experimental areas to he man“agod hv the Department in conjunction with local committees, the Department is anxious that considerable “development should take place, and “negotiations with local committees “have been begun in several localities. “It is felt that arms of this class will “serve a much more useful purpose than “the more numerous co-operative ex-.

“perimenta with individual farmers and “were so extensively carried out during “during the past decade.” The “negotiations” referred to were abandoned long ago. They consisted of calling applications for land and when same were submitted, though highly suitable areas were offered free, the Department turned the whole lot down. Just how much the Secretary and his Bepartment are in earnest, over this matter as regards Westland can -be gathered from the sentence above referred to. Ho talks of “negotiations” oil the West Coast and without stopping to take breath, jumps to Odago where “something definite is certainly called for.” Nothing definite for Westland though. Just the usual ’fucjge of a departmental reference, the very language of which breathes insincerity and studied neglect of the necessities of the case. Then in this ! still important blue-book, tlie Birector jof the Fields Bivision holds forth. He I tells us that “experiments on the forI est lands and pakihis of the West ! Coast have been followed up and furI t,her observations made.” The remark | to this is that it would bo interesting to I know when, where, and bow the “following up” process has taken place, and what weighty “observations” have, been made. The Department and the Minister alike have avoided fulfilling the promises made to Westland with its wealth of Crown Estate, and the cleai knowledge now that a future in regard to pastoral pursuits is ahead of the Province. The Minister knows this because he patted us on the hack and told us of luis belief in Westland when bo made the unfulfilled promises we complain of. His Departmental officers know it for they, too, have viewed tliis land of promise and professed to holiev'e in .its pastoral future. Yet, knowing the resources, and the undeveloped forces to build up a great settle ment district they not only shirk their duty to the country, hut stand convicted of failing to fulfil solemn promises to assemblies of the public who believed them to be earnest in their desires to perform the promise to the letter.