THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 21 January 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

?>. \ Scientific £ Jarming. 3 Increased prices of land, together g with the entry of fresh competitors into the world’s markets, and the - great strides made in many countries in scientific farming, make it imperative that New Zealand should do something more in the direction of education on agricultural Hdcs if she does not wish to be left behind in the struggle for supremacy iu the world ’» markets. Perhaps the best means of impressing the inadequacy of our agricultural education can be obtained by | comparing New Zealand’s efforts, in | this direction with those of Denmark. New Zealand is essentially an agricultural country, yet we possess hut one agricultural college—a very good one. ■ certainly (Lincoln, Canterbury)—for '■ the whole Dominion. Denmark, a ! small country in area it is a little ( smaller than the provincial district of , Canterbury, between the Hurunni and > Waitaki rivers has 90 agricultural colleges, with 6000 students. What is > the resultT If our readers follow the | market reports they will know that biitibdi butter, eggs, bacon, etc., always | top the English market. The New Zeu- ! land farmer knows what, he is doing ’ and is an excellent farmer, as a proi rainent lecturer raid at Christchurch I recently, but the Danish farmer goes one better: he knows what he is doing, ! and Be knows why he is doing it. He knows the science of his job—the why eml the wherefor of the thing he does. I The magnificent trade done by Denmark shows what scientific farming . has done for that wonderful little country, and we in New Zealand should •i equip our farmers with the tie** gducal [ tioc obtainable, and thus enable as. % -with the unexcelled advantages offered S by climate, soil. etc., to take premier jj place in tha world’s markets for our \ farming product.*. For years the g Government has dilly-dallied with tne % ' question of establishing further agrif cultural colleges, and the farming cC--,. \ ; m unify should demand a definite policy I in this direction without delay. % i \ Otaki Town Board \ ' Vacancy. * . The Otoki Town Board has suffered \ « severe loss through the resignation i ; of Mr Byron Brows, who i.-. reiiEqsishi his position owing m his leaving f : t he for an extended vwi? to II Java and &£ Mr Brown i Uss been cha iTtn&S* the Bated foe : ■ two years, during whic? time be 1 i filled the position with distiF'®' credit, • His business capabilities have „ -s? i u~ed to good advantage on the Board’s : account. Mr Brown has devoted a great : deal of time to the interests or the i town, and has tilled the position of ! chairman at all tinses with dignity fcn/i ability. It will be a difficult matter , to £M tie vacancy witk a better man, j i;but we have many good citizen* who ’ 'would c’.aiy extcilk-nt town formii--' loners., and -we hope some of these

will offer their services in the pui lie interest at the forthcoming ex raordinary election.

Various opinions have been expressed as to the Otaki Town Boa l's experiment with laying down cone etc footpaths in the main street, but for our part we are inclined to the opi ion j that, if the whole work is carried out * as economically and as well as the small portion already completed, it will be one of yhe best pieces of permanent work yet to the credit of the Board. S We are informed that the cost of put- V ting down concrete slabs on the foot-ll paths on both sides of the main street,* from the post office to the Bank of'( Australasia corner, will not exceed j £‘2so, i his amount including cost of i material, laying down, etc., al! com- 1 plcte. This works out at about. £l7 .1 per chain, which is certainly a very j cheap ratd for such work. If we get ] the whole of the footpaths of the main i | street, betwceiK these points, concreted for £250 we think, the townspeople will have every reason to be well pleased with the economy of the methods adopted by the Board 's workmen—the work is being done by the Board’s regular employees. It. remains to be seen whether the work will lie altogether satisfactory, but if the slabs last as it is claimed they will, for practically all time, and the workman-* ship stands Ihe test of time, it would'] appear that the Board acted wisely in j adopting this style of footpath improvement instead of asphalting. The | system of putting down concrete slabs has the advantage that the slabs can lie removed when piping, etc., needs to lie laid, without injuring the footpath j foundation. The cost of maintenance, j too, will be practically nil—a most important factor. At present the footpath construction-is being held up, j owing to cement not being available,' but it, is to be hoped that supplies will be to hand soon, and that the work', will be pushed through without delay, ■ as the present condition of the paths is-,

a disgrace. The completion of the concreting of the paths should be. followed by the asphalting of the main sleet, which would give the business portion of the town a much improved and cleaner appearance, and also do away largely with the dost nuisance. If the Town Board continues to expend a .small sum eaelt year in permanent im-

provements to the town. Otaki will soon present a much more attractive appearance, and the whole of the townspeople would reap the benefit.