MINISTERIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 257, 20 March 1913, Page 5

MINISTERIAL.

MR. MASSEY IX THE SOUTH. Per Press Association. Timaru, Last Night. Mr. Massey formally opened the new Boys' High School in the presence of a large assemblage. Jn the course of his remarks he complimented the school on its determination to specialise in agriculture, and said that the Government was determined to push on land settlement to the utmost, and asked the people to support this policy. He afterwards received a number of deputations, the most important being from the Farmers' Union, with reference to the shortage of farm labor outdoor and indoor, and cropping restrictions on LLP. lands. Regarding farm hands, he said that the farmer wanted skilled men, able to take charge of horses, implements and machinery, and Sir Rider Haggard had told him that such men were as scarce at Home as here. Then, as such men did not remain servants all their lives, continual streams of young men suited for the work were required! The Government had been assisting ploughmen and domestics, and he would propose a larger sum for the purpose. Regarding cropping restrictions, he said that they were to a largo extent useless, and be would have them removed within certain limits. Tn reply to a question about experimental farms, he spoke of the Board of Agriculture to be set up to advise on such matters.