MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1916, Page 5

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE.

A VISIT TO TAHANAKI. MODEL DAIRY FARM QUESTION. The Minister of Agriculture (the Han. W. D. S. Macdonald) is visiting Tar»naki this week, and is now at Stratford. On Wednesday, the Minister visited th« Monmahaki State Farm, and he arrived at Stratford by the mail train last night. At Stratford Mr, Macdonald iwt [ a deputation representing the A. and P. ; Association, in regard to the establishment of a model dairy farm in the district. To-day will be spent in visiting places of interest around Stratford. The Minister is accompanied by his private secretary (Mr. A. W. Mulligan). The deputation from the executive of the Stratford A. nnd P. Association wai introduced to the Minister by Mr. J, B. Hine, M.P. our Stratford correspondent). Tn the matter of establishing a mode, fl» 'vy farm at r Stratford before the Miu."~\v Mr. R. jj, Masters (President of the't'" .'-.lion), said the State farm at Maiiins_Udjb'*9 ,i of no advantage to Taranaki, »*_»■*■'' T> it entailed too much expense to'faitu— Be suggested the Stratford farm should comprise 150 acres—loo acres for farming and 50 acres for experimental plots, - < etc. The Agricultural Department might work in conjunction with the Education Department in giving agricultural instruction to boys. Messrs. R. Dingle , l : and W. P. Kirkwood supported the re-. ■', quest. The Minister, In replying, said that at the present time there was no place in New Zealand like Taranaki, and while the request of the deputation was a fair one he regretted that- at the present time no definite promise could be made. iHe quite recognised that Taranaki it ' essentially a dairying district, and yet .) Hio province was not getting the heat .;■ results. There were three experimental ■ * farms in the North Island and none In \ the South Island, and they had to re- ■ * member that the South Island had a. 'j right to consideration. In regard to tb« jjj suggestion of the co-operation of tha ]& Agricultural and Education Department* ,;? tho Minister said he was arranging W h a conference on tho matter. Mr. Mw v Doiiald concluded by saying that wMa lie could not make a promise nam, W : '„ would give the matter his ,;; sid'eration at an early date. ;'