THE PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1919, Page 8

THE PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

INCREASING PRODUCTION.

INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

(Special to News.)

Wellington, Last Night.

The Parliamentary Industries Committee report as follows regarding the dairying industry:—

The committee recommend that a dairy school be opened for the I scientific training of factory managers and assistants, _,who shall be granted certificates according to the standard 'of proficiency Achieved. These certificates should not be the exclusive right of students attending the school, but should be available to all who can attain to the standard of knowledge and proficiency set for the examinations. The probable early development of the manufacture of rennet, casein, dried milk, condensed milk, and sugar of milk makes the immediate consideration of this question imperative, owing to the fact that few skilled operatives and managers are available Zealand. The site of the is of no* materia! consequence, and it is possible that it could be situate near or on an experimental farm. The question . of research work is all-important, and the'school should be provided with the necessary facilities, the apparatus, and . the best available instructors. x The committee feel assured of the ectwe co-operation of those engaged, in - controlling the dairying business, and it is hoped that a mutual scheme may be evolved whereby those so engaged could co-operate with the Government in management and control, even to the extent (of contributing towards the cos*t of establishment or equipment.

The manufacture of rennet for cheesejtnaking is an industry that can be greatly ■ assisted by scientific research, and a I dairy school could be advantageously I engaged in this work. The committee urge, especially as the raw material is Igftow mostly wasted, that nothing should $e left undone in the way of research ■work for the utilisation of otherwise •'■mate material, and that the services of , an- expert -rennet-maker be secured from abroad.

■ OF BUTTER-FAT. - The committee have taken considerable evidence on the question of increasing the ' yield of bntter-fat, and have found that theA&verage is 161 lbs, .which is far too low in a country so favorably situated for dairying as Hew Zealand. When it is considered that there are 793,000 dairy cows in use and that an increased yield to 200 lbs of. butter-fat per cow would . '.produce about £2,700,000 in extra money, 'the importance of the subject can be readily understood. This suggested increase of 30 lbs of butter-fat per cow i* not unreasonable in "-view of, the fact - that the .production per cow increased from 142 lbs in 1910-11 to in 1916-17, and that many herds "are at , -present producing 200 'lbs—indeed, some • iproduce 250. lbs *ud 300 lbs, and, in exceptional cases, 400 lbs. An increase • of fat per-cow would result in a reduction in the cost of production, and,*in the opinion of the committee, the utmost endeavor should be made* to.bring.about jjoch inaß»ase.:_ ' "'" '& ■ The question 'of testing all\important,, especially when itsfe considered that in- 1918-19 only 17,(XJ0 cows were tested out of the large 'sp total in-.jtfew Zealand. The committeferecom- . taend that; the following steps be-Aaken about improvements 1 :,,33«t the testing of dairy cows on''association .methods be extended as much as possible; that testing officers be appointed to each of the larger companies for this .purpose if an association can be orga- ' weed,-the companies to pay at least a ' "portion of their salary. It is further lecommeided that /the Department of ■ 'Agriculture continue to inaugurate anddevelop associations among the. smaller factories in districts visited by-officers *fe connection with the testing Of re- - petered dairy cattle. In districts not so Tinted a group of smaller factories com*bffiing for the purpose of herd-testing "■hould receive the same consideration as ', a larger company working independently. In view of the high land values.in which have been most improved, *it is necessary that dairy farmers should vkeep that class of cow which will convert into milk the largest proportion of the -feed grown on these dairy farms. Evidence placed before the committee, indicates that the "special purpose" dairy cow requires less feed for maintenance 'than does any other type of cow, Urn?leaving more feed for the production <.f milk. The heifers to be reared for maintaining the milking herds on these dairy farms shimld, as far as possible, be sired by butter-fat Tecord bulla. Evidence was forthcoming to the effect that only W per cent, of the bulls in New Zealand ~are purebred. - .: •BlJtdJSftfi'AT' PRICE EQUALISATION ~ '* Tlw'tkftMittee have taken evidence in Twtoecjtion! withvihe, present method of piX>v^isg ; ib|tfcteKfor local below the market price for export, and '" are of opinion that the system of reducing the pHce 7 locally, as at present w vogue, U not sound, inasmuch as it only applies to one- industry, and that it -- bring about a decreased owing to farmers tak- '""-''■ more profitable production of cheesej dried auk, etc. * The cdrahritteeare of opinion th£t the' -■■" 'goverhmeiit, are bound to see that the retail pride of dp*Jsßsipisßat of diet J» Kept wHMn reasonable limit*, the pmueerghpuid-be made achargeon .. - ETC. ' '?■- ■ ,v,.. The Cpnmittee haycV*Jttt"satisfacVioh,i 'leaned 1 that the well as . combined dairyjjlajrtfirK, jwners, have v sent investtgiW^Wi^iiited'-StBWB and Canada, with M| of eliciting in- • formation that wuV" eventually' enable ~ New; .Zealand -to firmly establish.rthe dried milk,' sugar- p'f milk, and casein industries; • There Is need for a searching inquiry;in this country as to the true: position of certain,patent rights held here, as welFas the' methods of • trading now established. Evidence was given to the effect that private ownership of certain,,patent,rights ,waa unduly hampering the manufacture of casein. The .Committee-reepmmend the purchase of . these rights by the Government, so that ■ the manufacture of casein will be open to all on equal terms.

Koxrous weeds, r^* •A serious and growing evil exists in Ijhis Hwpect,*and the present system of dealing with the,trouble is largely ia- * .effective. < Blackberry is one of the most - troublesome and formidable of all weeds. > '^6'Committee recognises that harsh

many landholders, and that in some" ld.calities it is almost impossible to eradicate weed peßts. Nevertheless, the demand is imperative for legislation to prevent the spread of the evil and to .protect those districts 'in which the trouble has not been so great. The Committee recommend that, in view of present-day conditions, the Noxious Weeds Act be amended so as to cope with the pest and prevent the still further spread of weeds. Such legislation should include provision for any district to be declared a "weed district," in which it shall be an offence to permit ; the Reeding of specified noxious weeds; settlers to have the right of appeal against inclusion in such district.

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. The committee believe that it is to the primary industries and their development that the country must look to provide the bulk of the added revenue required to meet the increased expenditure rendered necessary by the war, and everything possible should be done to stimulate production. To that end the committee urge that every effort should be made to; increase the number of those engaged in the agricultural and pastoral industries. The fullest use will require to be made of the lands of the Dominion, and in this respect closer settlement will necessarily play a great part. There must be very stringent legislation against land aggregation, and the speculative gamble that is at present going on in rural lands should be discouraged, and, if possible, prevented. The Government should push on with an adequate roading policy in newly Settled districts, and a vigorous policy in railway construction is also'requirefc The farming industry will always require a large number of workers to carry on its operations, and so as to encourage the employment of married men the Government, should advance money to fanners to enable them to provide the necessary, housing accommodation. Owing to this lack at present employment is confined to a great extent to single men, and the unsettled populating of the country districts is thereby retarded.

Agricultural seed growing,is a new and promising branch of agriculture, which can be added with profit to the branches already in existence. The committee are of opinion tha't, to establish this industry en sound lines, an expert should be engaged to instruct farmers who are desirous! of carrying on this branch of production in the best methods to secure a first-grade product, true to type and of the highest possible germination. There is also a fieldfor the establishment of a payable industry in the production of horticultural seeds, which is worthy of careful consideration.

The value of experimental work in connection 'with agriculture and stock raising is being recognised more and more by the farming community, and there is a strong demand in the country districts for the extension of this policy by the Department of Agriculture. The experimental farms are giving satisfactory results, and,' in the opinion of the committee, could be increased in number to the' Advantage of agricultural knowledge and education. Owing to the great diversities of soil and climate in the different districts of New Zealand, it is necessary to have an experimental farm situated, or experimental work carried on, in at least each provincial district. At present there is not an experimental farm in the South Island, but there is provision on the Estimates for one in Westland.

In. Canterbury, Lincoln College iB doing good-service in providing an agricultural education for youths, but'if its revenue were strengthened the staff would be enabled to carry out much' experimental work~jh the way of plant breeding, etc, which would be of the greatest assistance to the agricultural industry of Canterbury and Otago. A desirable arrangement could be made if the Department cf Agriculture were to co-operate with the college in this work, and the committee recommend that the Government liberally subsidise that institution to meet the added expense.

FERTILISERS. The announcement of the acquisition by New Zealand of an interest in the Island of Nauru will be received with satisfaction by the farming community, as this island has large deposits of phosphatic manure, which is in great demand in New Zealand. So as to ensure that it will be supplied at first-hand cost, the committee urge that the handling of the output be undertaken by the Government, and that they also, if necessary, provide the requisite shipping. In connection with the th.t world's supply of nitrates, it is important to note that New Zealand has an abundant supply .of water-power and unlimited deposits of lime, thus placing the Dominion in a good position to produce its own supplies at a reasonable price. At the same time an export trade might be developed. A syndicate is prepared, if it can get the Bowen Fall rights for power from the Government, to undertake the manufacture of nitrates, and the committee urge that the Government itself undertake the manufacture, or, failing -that, that private enterprise be' encouraged to do so, and that the requisite , water rights be granted, with certain Safeguards as fo the price of the produce and the right of resumption. There should be no further delay In deal-'ing-with this question. , .During the war there have been ao importations of potash; a valuable fertiliser,., and in consequence-much of our land is suffering more or less impoverishment. It if understood that the available source'of supply is under the control of the French Government,- and the 1 •• committee recommend;that the Government communicate with the French Government without delay, and, if the price be not prohibitive,' arrange for a supply/ : '