Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1884. MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 227, 22 August 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1884. MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE.

In a colony which, like New Zealand, is chiefly dependent upon the productions of the land for its general progress and prosperity, it seems almost curious that there is pot a Minister for Agriculture. Even m England fchepe is a considerable desire that a portfolio of this description should be created, and if it is even wished for there, it should surely be an absolute necessity m New Zealand. The Somersetshire Chamber of Commerce have recently expressed strong views upon the benefits which such an appointment would be to the agricultural classes, and made some proposals for tlje reorganisation of tb,e

Government Departments m this direction. It appears that a motion was tabted m the English House of Commons so far back as 1881, which favored the appointment of a Minister for Agriculture, and sug- j gested if a single portfolio of that nature could not be granted, that a combination should be made m the shape of a Minister for Agriculture and Commerce. Quite lately, too, the English Commons brought forward a second and similar motion, but some unforseen circumstances prevented it from coming to any practical issue up to the present time. It is however, surprising that the people of New Zealand have not demanded that a responsible head should be appointed to control a department of agriculture, or at least Agriculture and Commerce. Of course, that would mean the establishment of a new branch of the Civil Service, which most people are strongly opposed to, but it is questionable whether sufficient reductions could not be made m other departments, to make room for another and more important branch of the Service. Then, again, if Government were not to dabble so much m things that the public could manage for themselves, there would be room for the establishment of a branch such as that of Agriculture and Commerce, without any increased expenses to the colony. For instance, m the Life Insurance line, there are many old established and first-class companies that can do the business the Government does, at almost the same rates, and on a firm commercial basis. Why is it necessary for Government to commence a department for the carrying out of business- like this, that is already ably done by private companies? A department of Agriculture cannot be established by a company. Nothing short of a Government elected of the people can possibly watch over the interests of a community whose chief source of wealth is the produce of the land. No private company or individual can take the place of a Ministerial department of Agriculture. And yet the Government does not step m and supply the want or satisfy the requirements suggested. The duties of such a department would be most important ones. When ■it is considered that m addition to the old industries or exports which New Zealand has produced for years past, we have innumerable younger but equally promising ones fast growing into maturity, such as the export of frozen meat, the manufacture of cheese and bacon, the growth of tobacco, and the cultivation of silk worms. Everyone must admit that there is plenty of room for a department whose duty it would be to foster these industries and remove all obstacles (ancl there are many) to their progress and permanent establishment.