THE PROPOSALS OF A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 6

THE PROPOSALS OF A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS.

The conference of memben, of the leading agricultural and pastoral associations which was recently held in .Wellington proved more than usually interesting. Many subjects of considerable moment to the farming industry generally were fully discussed, and ideas which were prompted with a view to fostering the chief industries of this Dominion were exchanged, which indirectly, if' not directly, mustresult in greatly helping the pastoral and agricultural conmunity. Many subjects

I were fully gone into, such as our frozen meat markets, the small birds nuisance, ' I turnip pests, the noxious weeds problem, i rural education, stock diseases, improvej ment of grass lands, experimental work, ' agricultural shows, railway matters, j purity of seeds, and other problems re- , lating directly to our chief industries, ' affecting many others besides those engaged in agricultural pursuits. It is only of late years that men began to borrow weapons from science with which to carry on a persistent warfare with the soil, and it is only since these weapons b^egan to be used that the obstinate resources of Nature have ,been -fully realised and appreciated. With ev-ery advance of agricultural science better methods of tillage are disclosed, and the means supplied for preventing wa&te on the farm. It is by the free discussion of these matters that the wastefulness even in the best methods of agricultnre is noticed. The total waste becomes startling when what a man is actually extracting from the soil is compared with what he would be able to obtain from the land if he on scientific lines arid promptly banished the weeds and the pests that compete with, him for a living. The delegates at the conference evidently fully realised these truisms and displayed great keenness in the discussions. Many motions were carried, which if passed into law should have the effect of greatly stimulating our agricultural and pastoral industries. •• The fact that at the present time we have no chair of agriculture at any of our university, colleges was freely commented upon, and the general expression of opinion -favoured the idea of encouraging the training of men in agricultural research, who would give lectares and instruction and issue pamphlets for the, information of farmers and others, who are engaged in the business of agriculture. Distribution of practical agricultural information of an authoritative character is certainly what is" most wanted to-day. It is pleasing t< note that the Hon. T. Mackenzie has obtained from the High Commibsioner an assurance that the recent " Dreadnought " advertisement of New Zealand lamb was not authorised by his office, nor, so far as he could imagine, by any resident of New Zealand. This explanation, coming from the Minister of Agriculture, is most satis factory, and will doubtless allay any feeling that may have existed as to what was generally considered a vulgar and improper use for advertising purposes of the spontaneous offer of naval assistance by New Zealand to the Mother Country. Mr Mackenzie expressed himself as thoroughly in sympathy with the aims of the conference and the interests! of the farming community, and it is to be hoped he will be able to follow up his remarks on various points by practical work by the departments -in his charge. The Native lands question was fully discussed, and the delegates were emphatic in urging th« necessity for prompt dealing with the large areas of watte land at present occupied by the Natives, on which all the noxious "weeds which others are at present trying to suppress are allowed to nourish unchecked. These lands might well be dealt with before more money is spent in the acquisition of estates for closer settlement in the North Island: As the outcome of the conference parliamentary authority will shortly be asked to suppress the palming off of impure seeds on unsuspecting farmers, and to beverely deal with the commercial vendor who has been foisting inferior fertilisers upon the agriculturist. The question of the purity of onr seeds was discussed at length. It was fully recognised that when the farmerwho trustfully sows what he considers to be a particular kind of pure seed and gets a .good crop of weeds in return, thr purveyor of such teeds should be subjected to a severe penalty. But the farmer has a duty as well. He must see to it that seed infested with weeds is not sent away by him to pollute the land of others. On the whole the conference seems to have been one of v the most instructive and useful yet held in New Zealand, and it is to be hoped that the Government will give proper consideration "to the recommendations which were adopted after the whole subject had been threshed out.