RESEARCH WORK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3602, 22 February 1927, Page 4

RESEARCH WORK.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

DAIRYING PROBLEMS

Wellington, February 18,

“Since our last meeting,” said Mr

G. Shirtcliffe, at the meeting of the Council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research yesterday in Wellington, "the main questions that have arisen have been relating to policy and a clearer view is emerging as to our main lines of action. In the meantime, with various members of the council, I have had the opportunity of discussing these questions with the Minister of Agriculture, with tire Dairy Control Board, and with the new Agricultural College Council, and I am hopeful that immediate and co-ordinated attack may he launched on dairy and similar problems of urgent economic importance. I am sure that we welcome the formation of the Agricultural College Council and the probable early initiation of its important educational work, and mutual co-operation between the two councils and Lincoln College is, I think, assured. In the meantime, progress has been made in regard to the various resolutions passed at the last meeting of the council, while the several matters referred’to expert. committees have been under action.” Mr Shirtcliffe added that with regard to the investigation of noxious weeds, work was now. under way. Dr. Tillyard’s report on the proposed method of attack had been considered and approved by a committee .consisting of Mr Q. Donald, Dr. Hilgendorf, Professor Kirk, Mr A. H. Cockayne, and Mr Miller (tire two latter of the Department of Agriculture) and himself. The council would be glad to know very complete provisions have been made to safeguard public interest against possible loss or damage arising from the importation of the various control insects introduced, and proposed to l>e introduced, while the researches promised well for an ultimate successful attack on some of the worst of our noxious weeds. The main weeds in their order of importance to he coneenerated on were blackberry, ragwort, gorse, bidi bidi, St. John’s wort, foxglove. In connection with mineral content of pastures and animal nutrition, a programme of work had been drawn up by Mr Aston, of the Department of Agriculture, and Mr Rigg, of the Cawthron Institute, but before referring this to tire expert committee appointed at the last meeting and consisting of Professor H. G. Denham, Mr Q, Donald, Mr S. Fletcher (veterinary surgeon), Mr Bruce Levy, and Professor W. Riddet, the council was awaiting suggestions from Dr. Orr. of the Rewett Institute, as to the work undertaken in other parts of the 1 Empire, cable advice having been received that these suggestions would arrive very shortly. "These researches,” continued Mr Shirtcliffe, "have very wide application and will require careful eo-ordina-

tion with the work undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Lincoln College, and the Cawthron Institute. They have also an 'important bearing on the possible effects of the increasing use of top-dressing manures, which although in their infancy, have shown remarkable economic results in augmenting production, the elimination of certain deficiency diseases among stock, and the improvement of our soils for producing pedigree animals of undoubted good constitution. "One of the main questions for discussion,” he said, "is that of researches in connection with the dairy

industry. To promote this a committee lias been set up representative of the various interests, and already promising negotiations are hi train, and it is hoped that in the immediate future definite steps will be taken towards dealing with the research problems at present before the industry. The work will require careful co-ordination with the field laboratories already cstab-

lished at Hawera and Hamilton, and in contemplation elsewhere. Prohahly one of the most pressing immediate requirements, and one stressesd hv numerous reports to hand is that of an economic survey of the industry.”

Tire chairman pointed out that with