AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 270, 11 May 1912, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT

EXTENDING ITS SCOPE. The Hon. Tlios. Mackenzie. Prime Minister, who also holds the portfolio of agriculture, is displaying commendable activity in carrying out his intentions to widen the scope of the important Department under his care (says tlie Farmers' Union Advocate). He lias begun by inaugurating a scheme which provides a practical course of training for the youths who are to be the farmers of the future, by the conversion of the experimental stations into instruction farms. Mr. Mackenzie is also showing that he is alive to the necessity of knowing what other progressive countries are doing in the experimental line, and has added to the Department's staff 'a Bachelor of Science from the Glasgow University, whom he has instructed to proceed through Canada and America, and visit the most important centres of agricultural learning, with a view to picking up the latest, and best information that can be had oil scientific agriculture. The new addition to the staff is Mr. A. Wvlie, a distinguished graduate of the Glasgow University. Mr. Wylie. in addition to a brilliant scholastic career, has had five years' practical experience of farming, wd has lectured and conducted experiments and demonstrations under the Irish Department of Agriculture. We are glad to see that the Minister is departing from the custom of his predecessors in office by allowing other countries to entice our best men away, and he is prepared not only to prevent such losses, but to increase our gains by securing the services of men of special ability in the agricultural world. Mr. Mackenzie has good reason to be proud of the men in charge of the various sections of his Department, for we know of no other Department of State where the heads have shown such a determination to work in unison with the public. It is well that they are so, especially as so much depends upon their having the confidence of the fanning community. No real progress can be made without sympathetic co-operation, and While the farmer haa much to thank the Department for, the very existence of the Department rests on the use made by the favmer of the knowledge gained from experiment and research. These new departures are but an earnest of greater developments, provided the heavy responsibilities of the Premiership do not interfere with the good intentions of the Minister. Mr. Mackenzie should carefully consider the advisableness of creating a board of control, in order that the details may have due attention, and that a continuity of policy may be ensured. There is no definite period of tenure attaching to the portfolio, and political happenings may seriously interrupt the development proposals, whilst with the suggested board of control, there would not be the same danger of a sudden stoppage.