STABLE ECONOMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26636, 5 December 1947, Page 4

STABLE ECONOMY

CANADIAN INDUSTRIES AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS VIEW Canada had achieved a stable economy by a good balance between primary and secondary industries, said. Mr L. B. Thomson, 0.8. E., a guest at Wain's Hotel, in an interview with the Daily Times last night. Mr Thomson, who is touring New Zealand on behalf of the Canadian Department of Agriculture. accompanied by his wife and two daughters, was born in Blenheim, and left New Zealand as a, young man 27 years ago. This is the first time he has returned, and he remarked on the growth and improvement all over the country. While in New Zealand he will study research practices, and said that already he had been impressed by the ability of the men in the New Zealand Department of Agriculture. Mr Thomson is superintendent of an experimental farm at Swift Current. Saskatchewan, in Western Canada, of which 3000 acres is devoted to experiments in cropping, and the remaining 1000 acres to pasture. This farm was in the centre of the major wheat belt, said Mr Thomson, and the projects at the farm included grasslands studies, raising new varieties of wheat, sheep breeding programmes and testing new Agricultural machinery. There were over 60 of these stations scattered over Canada, he said, this one being the main farm for the western area.

Western Canada was an extremely large area, he said, and huge irrigation works would be introduced during the next 10 years to increase the fertility of the land. As the State would acquire an asset in these improved farmlands, it was considered that the State should bear the cost, as with soil conservation work. Farm machinery in New Zealand was of a similar standard to that in Canada, he continued, much of it being identical. As in New Zealand, mechanisation had not yet overcome the shortage of labour on farms. So far, Mr Thomson has seen most of the South Island except Otago and Southland. When he has inspected the southern provinces he will tour the North Island, and then go to Australia.