HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 61, 12 November 1913, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mr Massey stated that the Governlent proposed tp put through the Jills on the Order Paper and some titers which had.not yet appeared, he Naval Bill and the Licensing Bill •ould not be gone on with. He auicipated that the session could be oncluded in three weeks. THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. The debate on the Board of Agriculure Bill was resumed by Mr G. M. 'homson;. who said that there was iced for the Bill, as the Department '.f Agriculture had not been working s harmoniously as could be wished, ■ome new authority such as provided y the Board was required. iVgricii}' ure was of a high order in this«cpunry, but up to now our farmers had, p a great extent, been working virgin oil. The time was coming whenthp lemical properties of the soil would lave to be better understood, and mqrc '"ieqtific farming adopted. He- advoated a highly-trained scientist being laced at the head of the Board, om. I'ho understood plapt-breeciing, so a.s o increase the volume or crops, which leant a huge sum annually to the ountry. Our great want was a more L'neral adoption of highly scientific •ethods of farming.

slr G. Witty expressed grave disap; ointment with the Bill, which fell lar tot of expectations. He ridiculed ..the ■ iroposojl ■to select i members of. the ■■•'oard-.from members of A: fend* P: /peietics, who, in many casje-s, werc> j' fie , worst ; farmers.: in then' districts.;. j ,lip, ! Bo.ard wasmei-ely a l}uffer<between, '■ the- Minister, and- the -people.' ( . J s J',J j • i'SiF W/ft ,s]»*:s j£?} <fete"Ws' 's&' 'ottyig. up .of ',the' Board .as calculated: I j p advance, th-e '.interests of ■■4grjfci#fnH\ j ! & Wild, foe |e- • .r'esentutiye oitipthjss|apjsfr'.thowfligh-i wjih'flftW,tjti AQntHtions, j , tiwi:'fOli\ftfe* of, f«ffming ! -liwt ' uitablc in the different districts. He ranted to see the , agricultural col>aes(established. He might some day "iter the Government a- sura of' money vith that purpose, and would not; stipu\te that the college should be in the Vairarapa. ,^^r., l ;;eaid < Vview oi&tihf different >e faeed .light to bjf t|-o'Boards; Vone ; for;.tliti v'ortji and 'one for the South Ishiwd: >ie ideprecat.ed-the 5 prominence '-give;) o representation ft n •jh,£*P?« u "d And P. Societies. ;" The small farmer nd dairy farmer would havo no voice n the establishment pt t)?(3 agj-jci(l£u]:a! ollepjes. It was a matter requiring l nmediiite attention.

Mr B. Newman agreed that the >ffieers of the. Agricultural Department ,-ere efficient, but the system under diich they worked was and.rehired alteration., The Board would iecure a continuity pf a policy which n the past had changed with tin; /arying views of every new Minister, nth disastrous results to the Depai\nent.

The debate was continued on desnl orv lines.

Mr Massey, in reply, indicated that le proposed to establish a first Agriultural College in the North Island, r'or the reason that there was already m excellent college at Lincoln. He expected that tlje institution would ie costly, and in all probability provision would he made for it on the Sup , Estimates. The Board vould probably cost £lf)00 per year, lot a large sum if it made the Agri•ultural Department more efficient,and t was costing about £IBO,OOO per year. The second reading was carried on die voices. > ✓ RAILWAYS A UTHORTSATIOX. The Hon. W. Eraser moved the second reading of the Railway Authqrisation Bill, authorising' additions to the and East Coast Main Trunk lines. Mr Reed asked the Minister when they might expect the Public Works Statement? The Hon. W. Fraser replied: "Possess your soul in patience until you got it." The Hill was read a .second time on the voices, and the House rose at 12.20 a.m.