BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1920, Page 8

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS. At the meetings of the Board of Agriculture held last week, the president (Sir .1. (J. Wilson) occupied tlie chair, and I here; was a large attendance of members. RURAL EDUCATION.

Dr. Reakes, Director-* ieneral of Agriculture, reported that the recommendations with regard to this subject that the Board had made to the Council of Agriculture had been subsequently brought forward and discussed at a conference called in Wellington between the Agriculture, and Education Departments to deal with the matter of rural education, and that this gathering had endorsed most of the suggestions that had been made by the Board.

Steps had been taken to define the sphere of action of the officers of both departments. Jt bad been decided that the instructors of the Education Boards should deal with rural education in the primary, secondary, and technical schools; while the officers of the Department of Agriculture should undertake the practical farm training of the farmers and of the boys wbo had left school. Pending the securing of a sufficient number of instructors to meet requirements the field officers and instructors of the two departments should work in co-operation. Steps were also taken to provide for the training of more instructors in the various brauches of agriculture, both for the Department of Agriculture and for the Education Department. It was urged that facilities for teaching the subjects required for -the B.A. pass in agricultural science and for advanced agricultural . science for the B.Sc. degree should be provided at each of the university colleges; and, further, that increased encouragement should be given to students at the training colleges, who show a special aptitude for agricultural work, to proceed to'an agricultural college to complete their training. It had also been agreed between the two departments that a bureau of information and guidance should be established to induce lads from secondary and technical schools, as 'veil as teachers and other persons, to pursue a course of study in agriculture and to advise I hem concerning the stops thev should take.

AGRICULTURAL CLUBS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. This conference also endorsed the rec immendalion of (he Board that steps siotild lie taken to initiate agricultural cubs for boys and girls, in various parts of N.Z. on similar lines to those which had been found of such great service in Canada and U.S.A.. in awakening an in-. most in improved methods of raising crops and live stock. Dr. Reakes stated he would be "lad to have the views a' the Board as to the best methods to living t!ie A. and l\ Associations and other farmers' organisations into this Movement. After some discussion, the I'oard recommended that an organiser should be appointed to visit the different districts and the A. and P. Associations, etc., that wished to start clubs o! this description in their centres, and ti'tat a sum of money should be set aside fur the purpose. Knrther, that the A. and P. Associations be invited to cooperate in the movement by opening s'oecial classes, and oll'cring prizes for tlie best animals or produce exhibited by members of such clubs.

SniCESTKD LEGISLATION. The Board discussed at great length with Dr. Reakes a number of suggestions that had been received with regird to the Seeds Hill, and other measures that are now before Parliament, ft vas decided to recommend the Minister of Agriculture 10, endeavor to get the Noxious Weeds Rill passed during the present session, as the proposed amendments were of a non-contentious nature, and the Rill would be of great assistance 10 the farming community. The Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Bill was also fully endorsed and similarly reel mi mended. A draft for a proposed amending Bill to control the sale of i f->rlili--ers was also discussed, but it was | divided to defer the final consideration | of this measure, until the next meeting lot (lie Board, to enable further inquiries ta be made.

. NAURU AND OCEAN ISLANDS. Br. Reakes also gave the Board all fie facts concerning thp arrangements, u.(i to date, made in connection with Nauru and Ocean Islands. WOOL POSITION.

At a subsequent meeting, th* Board conferred with the committee, that had b>en appointed, at the conferences held t'l consider the various problems in connection with the disposal and shipping of meat, wool, and other New Zealand produce. Dr. Rentes, chairman of this committee, stated that alter a lengthy and careful discussion of the various ar.pects of the wool question, it had been <1 willed to draw up a report sotting out. tup whole position, and this would be published in a few days, so that growers \'ollld be able to grasp the Whole situation, ine tone of the discussion was of a hopeful character, though the need »' caution and the necessity for not depreciating market values' by panicky M-lliiig was strongly emphasised. The question of finance was discussed at length, and after hearing the whole of the facts of the position' the Board .came ,to the conclusion thai the opinion <)'! the committee that the time was not immediately opportune for (ixiiio- u „ v definite h ; , s i s (',„■ advances was a sound jonc. sec,eg that »t the present lime it I iv impos*iblc to form an opinio,, . K ( „j I «hal will be (he actual market selliuir I v;i I lies of the various elates of wo.d "''''» l!l1 ' new clip comes forward for •-'■■'"• 'l''"' Hoard noted with salisfacl '"i Hial sioek and station agents, and il was iindor.,;ood banks also, W oiild be Hilling as heretofore to make advances l " lh ''"' rc-ncc-me clients, up („ sneh amounts a, «cv reasoiiaMc under the cmimsianccs. and. having regard to the ''"•' '''''l 11"' 'lovernment was prepared "• •>'■'"■! M.in.l ilio producers. i|„, '"".""V >' coincided will, the opinio,, '" '>'<' commiitee. |, seems evident I 1": 1 ' «'"" | would provide them-■■-'•Vr /', 'l" 1 '""' ' ,v »"»»<* if I Ley |" ' M »■«■■"'' "-..m sale, in prefer- !<"'"' to selling il a| „, lr e at low figures icpceially as there is ample storage aejominclaiion for wool i„ the Dominion Il was finally agreed that the British •■••"vcni.nnnl should be requested to hold over tor as long a period as possible, all Mocks of New /calami coarse crossbred ; wool, until Mich time „ s t . KO „, Hl . k( . t I «s more stabilised. And further to suggest to the wool-brokers of the Do- \ minion (especially those dealing tvltl*

the coarser grades of wool) tlint they slionlj come to some agreement about the minimum prices, wliicli they would advise their clients to accept for their wool. «> PROSPECTS OF SHIPPING TO SOUTH AMERICA. Mr. Perry reported that arrangements had been made for a steamer to go to Monte Video at the end of this month, but he was informed that all the deck space had already been taken up by a South American buyer. Dr. Rpakes was, however, inquiring whether any of it would be available for N r ew Zealand shippers, desirous of sending sheep to the Argentine. He had been told that probably another steamer would be despatched later to Valparaiso from which part stud sheep could be sent overland to the Argentine; but that a guarantee of at least 100 head was required from the shippers, by the owners of the steamer. It was agreed to make further inquiries and to advise tiie owners of stud stock as to the position.

Amongst other matters dealt with were the proposed importation of clinker, or Indian partridges, the Arnentine partridge, and the Martinetto bird, for acclimatisation purposes; and the method of electing the members of the Hoard of Agriculture. CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW. The question of organising a royal championship show, to be held alternately in the North and South Islands so that visitors in search of stud stock would be able to see the best of the N,Z. breeds (which had been referred to the Board by the Council of Ai-rieul-turel. was carefully considered; and i( was decided to endorse the recommendation, and a sub-committee was set in to formulate the best method of nivin!> effect fo the prop„,al, and to dnuv up prize lists for th,. champion classes