SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 334, 4 February 1911, Page 3

SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.

TWO MEMBERS VISITING NEW ZEALAND. Only two members oC the Scottish Agricultural Commission, which has been investigating the rural conditions of the Commonwealth, have been able to extend the inquiry to this country. They are Messrs J as. Dunlop (Ayrshire) and James Keith (Aberdeenshire). Mr Dunlop is a successful breeder of Ayrshire cattle and Border Leicester sheep, and has on many occasions exported Ayrshire and Border Leicesters to this country. He is a director of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Scottish Commission which visited Denmark-, Ireland, and Canada. MiKeith is a lauded proprietor and practical farmer at Pitmedden, Udny, Aberdeenshire, and is a director of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture. Mr Keith also accompanied the Scottish Agricultural Commission to Denmark, to Ireland, and to Canada. At one time he held the rank of Captain in the Gordon Highlanders.

Questioned regarding the object of the detaenmsnts visit to New Zealand by a Southland "News" representative, Mr Dunlop said that, in the first place, it was a pity that more of the Commission had not been able to visit the Dominion. It was anticipated that seven or eight of the dozen at least would have been able to come, but it must be remembered that six months is a long time for a practical farmer to be away from his Scottish farm, and several members had received cables from Home, which necessitated their return at the earliest possible moment. The result had been that instead of seven or eight, only Mr Keith and himself had been able to visit New Zealand. They intended to have six weeks in New Zealand, and would make as comprehensive a tour as they could, studying en route the conditions and prospects of the country, agriculturally and from an immigration point of view. Personally, he was happy enough to have many relations in New Zealand, and also many friends with whom he had dealt in the sheep and cattle which he had for years been exporting from Scotland to this and other parts of the world. He would form his own opinion of the country, as it was not proposed to include a report on New Zealand directly in the finding of the Commission in Australia, and on his return Home he would tour the agricultural centres of Scotland and lecture upon his observations in Australia and New Zealand. At the conclusion of the Canadian tour in 190S he delivered no less than thirty lectures upon his return to Scotland. His first step would be to visit Lake Wakatipu.