Farmers’ Education is Bearing Fruit

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 365, 28 May 1928, Page 8

Farmers’ Education is Bearing Fruit

PRODUCTION IN NORTH FERTILISERS COME TO STAY The effect which an appr« latlon of improved production method, i. having upon the New Zealand dairy producer—particularly in the North Auckland Province —was outlined at a conference of North Auckland dairy factory delegates held Auckland to-day. when Mr. A. Moton, president, declared that effort; of recent years to educate the dairy farmer to up-to-date method, had already borne exceptional fruit. He predicted greater results in the neafuture. The conference comprised over »„ delegates from factories throughout the Northern districts. Mr. Morton expressed pleasure at the improved conditions in the daky j n „ dustry in the North, as compared with 20 years ago. On a recent visit there he had been struck with the vast productive possibilities of the North Auckland district—not only in dairying, but in other departments of primary output. The efforts of farmers to increase their individual production was intensely gratifying, he said, and the results achieved by several small companies proved the capacity of the Nona for successful dairying. The fertiliser war had assisted the primary producer on account of the competitive forcing down of prices Even if the price were to rise, however, tl e cheap rates in the past year or so had impressed the farmer with the efficacy of fertilisation, and the improved method would now be continued as a universal practice. VALUE OF THE COLLEGE The chairman stressed the efficacy of culling in herds, snd predicted that as a result of the producers’ education in the better producing methods, the standard would be maintained and immense strides would be made throughout the industry*. This agricultural education had not been confined to the individual producer, but was manifest in its community aspect, in the establishment of tile Massey Agricultural College at Palmeston North, which was instituted primarily for the. benefit of the dairy industry. For some years past the need for increased scientific knowledge by managers and assistants had been apparent, and he anticipated healthy and beneficial results xrom the facilities afforded in this direction. It was a subject for gratification that Mr. G. M. Valentine, of the Auckland province, had been chosen to manage the factory at the Massey College where the latest and best in bnttes. fat production and treatment wonld be dealt with. (Applause.) Mr. Morton looked forward to a dairy season even more successful than the one through which the industry had just passed, and, judging the situation from his observations, he believed the North Auckland would be a big contributor toward that pronounced success. BETTER ROADS WANTED The conference will reiterate its previous request to the Government for improved roading in the North. The statement was mude that the lack of good highways was costing the dairy factories much money. It was contended on the other hand that the Highways Board was doing as much as possible toward improved roading conditions. Mr. Hayward, Maungatapere, mentioned that the board was subsidising some counties to the extent of £ to 1. . Mr. Lewis. Northern IVairoa. considered the side roads were suffering to the benefit of the main highways.