THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT .

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 23

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT .

A MAMMOTH UNDERTAKING. ■ GISBORNE, January 20. In the course of an interview, the t Hon. R. M'Nab, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, said that great as is the work of the Agricultural Department aow, it will be vastly greater 10 years - hence _at the present rate of progress, and will probably require the energies of a Minister doing that arid nothing else. ■ The Hon. Mr M'Nab said : "I do not know of any department whose development ■is increasing, like this one, not even excluding the railways, because business, with the latter is simply an addition to t jts volume, while the " Agricultural Department "adds to its branches. There are nine divisions, with, nine heads, under the Secretary of Agriculture, and they include branches whicK in the general administration of the country are controlled by different 'Ministers, as, for instance, the veterinary branch, corresponds with that of 'Public ' Health, and has a department of. its own. Dairying work, poultry grading, bee keeping-, and ''others ■ correspond - with .Trades and Customs." and it controls the production in value of the industry, roughly, speaking, df v4jhree-qufrters ' ',' of the ' .."Dominion.'' . It is not possible to contemplate its : development, even -along safe* and sound financial lines in future. It is a. mammoth undertaking.