THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, 21 January 1908, Page 5

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

Press Association Gisborne, Januay 20. In the course of an interview, the Hon. R. McNab said that at the present rate of progress the Agricultural Department would be a vast depart' ment in the course of ten years, and would probably require the energies of a Minister to look after it and nothing else. Ido not know of any Department whose development is inceasing like this one, not even excluding the railways, because the business with the latter is simply an addition to the volume, while the Agricultural Department adds to its branches. There are nine divisions, with nine heads, also an Undersecretary of Agriculture, and they include in the animal world branches which in the general administration of the country are controlled by different Ministers. As, for instance, veterinary corresponds with the public health and has a Department of its own ; dairying work and poultry grading; bee keeping and others correspond with trades and Customs, and it controls production in the value of the industry. Roughly speaking, three-quarters of the Dominion. It is not possible to contemplate its development, even along safe and sound financial lines in the future. It is a mammoth undertaking.