AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 163, 4 August 1909, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. The conference of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies of New Zealand opened this morning, there being a very large attendance of delegates, Mr. J. G. Wilson presided, In his presidential address Mr. Wilson gave an outline of the work of the past year and said some difficulty had been experienced in getting a motion passed by the last conference put into effect owing to the unwieldy personnel of the committee. The conference had sent out some thousands of queries on the subject of grasses to ascertain what varieties had proved best throughout New Zealand and the results would be laid before the conference at a later stage. As he was not now 1 taking any active part in the management of any agricultural and pastoral association he would like to give prominence to one or two matters which were of great moment to the agricultural and pastoral community—the need for establishing a school of veterinary science. Mr. Wilson also referred to the •Meteorological Journal, the publication which the Government has discontinued on the score of expense. He hoped that better/ counsels would prevail. The president reviewed the frozen meat trifle on the lines of his address to the Farmers' Union last week and had something further to say on the question of co" operating \vitli a view to feeding the ♦market in Great Britain judiciously. t\ a.v should not a freezing companies' association be formed and a committee appointed to regulate -the trade? He was almost forced to the conclusion tliat there was something else other than mere supply and demand at work and to counteract the American move (it it existed) combination was the onlv weapon.

Wellington. Last Night. Further resolutions were carried at Agricultural Conference as follows: That it he a recommendation to the Agricultural Department that experiments by fanners be conducted under the supervision of a' Government director, in grasses, fodder, crops, and root crops, and that experimental plots be provided m the South Island, where new seeds and plants could be tested, and those found suitable afterwards dis* trihuted to farmers.

Hint it is desirable to enforce the provisions of th e Noxious Weeds Act more stringently, especially with reference to the thistle.