MODEL DAIRY FARM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 68, 25 February 1916, Page 3

MODEL DAIRY FARM.

THE A. AND P’s. REQUEST.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE UNABLE TO ACQUIESCE.

At the A. and P. Association rooms last evening a deputation consisting o( Messrs R. Masters (President). R. Dingle, W. P. Kirkwood, E. Kellelier, A. Stewart, J. Shot ter, and N. B. Fletcher, waited on the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. I). S. MacDonald), in regard to establishing a model dairy farm near Stratford. Mr J. B. Hine, member for the district, in introducing the deputation, saiil the A. and P. Association and the local member of the Agricultural Board were keen advocates of a model dairy farm. When Mr Massey was Minister of Agriculture and paid a visit to Stratford some time ago, a deputation waited upon him, and he was greatly taken with the idea of a model farm, and if it were not for the war a farm would, in his opinion, have been established. .Mr R. Masters (President) on behalf of the members of the Association, expressed appreciation at the Minister’s visit, and said that it snowed Mr MacDonald had a personal interest in the matter. For a number of years the establishing of a farm had been under observation, and he hoped in the end they would get one. He hoped Mr MacoDnald would see the matter in the'same light as Mr Massey had. Moumahaki Farm, as was generally known, was not of great benefit to Taranaki as a whole. Farmers in the district adjacent to Stratford, if they wished to visit the farm, had to leave home early in the morning, and after looking around, there was practically no time left, as one had to return by the express. What was wanted by the farmer was a place conveniently situated, where be could gain information at the least possible expense. What was suggested was to acquire about a 150-acre farm and say, for a time, to run two breeds of cattle, and after a while another two breeds. Fifty acres was necessary for cropping. It might be advisable to work in conjunction with the Education Department so as to give school children, lessons in agriculture. The results attained from a model farm would be beneficial to the district. He said he knew the price ol land had gone up by leaps and bounds, and in consequence was being cut up into smaller areas and farmed more scientifically.. The question was how to get better results at the present time. In some cases there was a great difference between the amount taken off a small farm than off a large farm, if worked out proportionately. What the deputation wanted was a farm, not exactly an experimental farm, which, if worked on a business basis, would pay for itself. In his opinion it would be possible to run a model dairy farm without costing the Government a brass farthing, and if this could not be done it would be of no use to the farmer. The suggestion was to purchase a farm of second class land; anybody could farm first-class land, and to get the best results from it. The Stratford district mainly comprised second class land. It had been suggested by the executive ol the Association that they should have a local advisory board to work in conjunction with the manager of the farm . What they wanted to see was a practical man, who could give farmers- any information required. In conclusion, MiMasters said he hoped the Minister

| would go carefully into the matter and -see the necessity of establishing a

Mr R. Dingle s:iid the previous speaker had touched on most points. The matter of establishing a farm had been in their minds for a considerable time, and he thought the Government should do something. He believed the amount paid to dairy farmers by tinfactories in the Stratford district totalled about £50,000 monthly. If a farm was established and the right man installed as manager he could give the farmers a great deal of valuable information. As Mr Masters had pointed out, they did not want a big farm of 1000 or even 500 acres. If a working manager was installed, there were many men in the district who had been farming all their lives, who were willing to give advice from time to time. The matter ol establishing a model farm was brought before the Agricultural Board the other day. and was well received. A farm ol the description advocated that would not pay -1 per cent, would be useless to the district and country. The farm should be worked on the lines that the practical dairy farrnei works on. The Qoverments experimental farms, except AV eraroa, wore not ostahlisliocl on bush land but a different class of land. The speaker pointed out the different classes of soil in the different districts, and stated a seed that would grow in one district would not always thrive in another. Different treatment was needed. Air Dingle said he did not expect the experimental plots to.pay. The dairy portion of the farm should be* divided into two, each section having a breed of cattle of its own, and so it would he possible to see which ol the two herds gave the most butter-fat. Mr AV. I*. Kirkwood said in asking for a farm, they wanted something that would be a great benefit to the district as a whole. If the farm was in the vicinity of Stratford (the hub of Taranaki) he had no doubt but that a great deal could be done with it. The question was how to get the best results from land, realising that >n the near future dairy farms would consist of 50 or 80, or 100 acres! in place of farms of to-day ol 200 acres or more. The-speaker pointed out the time taken to visit Moumahaki. In regard to expenses, the land would cost, say, 100 acres; at £SO, £5000; or 1.50 acres, £1500; and in his opinion no difficulty would be experienced ui making it pay. They were not asking for something that would not pay. In replv, Mr AJ.acDonald thanked the deputation for the reception he had received, and said he was pleased to he back in the district again after lour years’ absence. He had travelled considerably of late, and in his mind uo other part of New Zealand was looking better than Taranaki, He said he understood the desire of the deputation was for him to go into the question of a model dairy farm. He said he felt quite certain that they were not asking for something that was unjust. At the uresent time the Ministers could .not make a delinite answer regarding the carrying out ol a new venture in the country. As far as the dairy industry was concerned, he was sure they were not getting all that was possible from the Moumahaki farm, as it was not suitable. It was a remarkable thing that when boys had been at Moumahaki for some time they wished to go on dairy farms, cattle and sheep ,etc., to learn the whole business. Whatever Government was in power it would have to recognise that dairying was the coming industry. The Government should do all it could by way of scientific experiments, etc. ,to help the farmers. He realised that land was advancing m price, and he knew of it in some places increasing by 2UU per cent. As loi educating the dairy farmers, it was a matter that every Government should give atetention to, and it should do everything possible to make the country more attractive than the town. He knew that when a new man arrived in the district, the dairy farmers would be pleased to give him information, but if there was a Government farm in the vicinity, all information necessary would be able to be gained theretrom. There was no question, but that the man managing the farm would have to have knowledge and ability, so as to ( rive farmers the desired inlormation. Taranaki district was greatly improving, perhaps more than any other part of New Zealand. He agreed with the speakers that as soon as possible the Government should look into the matter. If the war terminated, within reasonable time, the value of land would not depreciate to any great extent, After the war, one industry would pay in the Taranaki district, and that was dairying. The Government should give every laeility to help the farmer. He felt convinced, hut India not know when, that the deputation’s request would he acceded to. The Government as a whole was with them in the matter. Though the farms were not doing all it might he possible In do for the district, there wenthree experimental farms in the North Island and none in the South. That was a!wavs being brought up. Ju regard to making the farm pay, it war very laudible . If they went in for es-

perhnental work it would he very costly. In regard to the Education and Agricultural I)eparlincuts amalgamating to do more for the agricultural education at schools, the matter would be discussed by the Ministers concerned before the session commenced, and if legislation was necessary it would bo brought in. To ask tin* Government for a new vote lor a new industry was a very difficult matter. W hat the deputation had asked for was in the right direction. Moumahaki farm was too far distant, and if a. farmer went to pav a visit ol inspection he may find, on arrival, that it was raining, or the day was not exactly suitable. If they had a farm in the district be could see no reason why it should not pay for itself, if it was run on the right basis. Lavish buildings would not be necessary. As far as the present project was concerned, lie was in sympathy with the farmers. As soon as finances were righted they should purchase the land. He had heard it said that the Government farms should he cut up and sold, but be was sure there were no buyers at the present. It bad rightly been pointed out that the financing would not he a big tiling. I'bere was no use misleading anybody, At the commencement of the present vear, they had turned over one of - the darkest sides of history. He hoped that before the end of the year peace would be proclaimed, and instead ot sending men away to be killed and maimed, they would be at borne helping to develop the country. He said lie was sorry to say that a great, amount of the wealth coming into the country at the present time was on account of the war. As people said the price of butter, etc., would not remain at its present high standard alter the war. in speaking ol the action of 'the Agricultural Department, Mr MacDonald said that one thing New Zealand was proud of was that the exportable goods were bringing more than those of other countries. At ibe Panama Exposition, New Zealand exhibits gained four hundred and Idly prizes, one hundred and fourteen of which were prizes of honor, one hundred and twenty-live gold medals, one hundred and twenty silver medals, and one hundred bronze medals. Besides these New Zealand gained the prize for the best agricultural exhibit. Speaking of six exhibits of dairy produce, the judge remarked that so even were they in the point of excellence, they could have been put together and made one exhibit. The buyers 'at Home, said Mr MacDonald, weve purchasing New Zealand produce ami taking delivery without looking at it, so excellent did they think the -New Zealand grading system. Mr Hine briefly thanked the Minister for receiving the deputation.