BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 May 1922, Page 7

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

MATTERS OF INTEREST. The Board of Agriculture held a meeting on the 26th inst., and considered several important matters bearing on the agricultural and pastoral industries, the president, Sir Jas. Wilson, occupying the chair. The board had a lengthy interview with the Director-General of Agncul-, ture and the Director of the dairy division of the department, in regard to the improvement of methods of handling dairy produce, with a, view of reducing the cost of production and preventing unfair competition between the various co-operative factories. It was pointed out that there was a great deal of over-lapping owing to the fact that several co-operative factories were competing for cream supplies in various districts, and that this further constituted a risk of the quality of the manufactured output being impaired. It was finally agreed that the director of the dairy division discuss this matter with the delegates who were meeting at an early date at Palmerston North with a view -of trying to bring about more satisfactory arrangements. The board was further of opinion that the work of dairy farm instructors wholly or partly paid for by dairy companies but carrying out their duties with the authority of Government officers was o£ great value in keeping the quality of our dairy produce at a high standard and that the cost involved. ! by this is amply recouped by the better returns accruing. A lengthy discussion took place regarding the general work of the department, this being materially aided by the detailed information furnished by •the departmental officers, which enabled the members of the board to obtain a close insight into the many and varied activities of the department and the lines on winch economies in expenditure necessitated by the existing financial stringency had. been and were still being brought about. In this connection the board was of opinion that educational and instructional work was of particular value at the present time and that no curtailment of this should take place.

During the discussion on rural education it was agreed that enquiries should be made with regard to the various legacies that have been bequeathed for the purpose of encouraging agricultural education. It was further decided that the time had arrived when the preliminary steps should be taken towards the establishment of one or more farm schools, and that sketch plans should be prepared for the buildings necessary for a school of fifty pupils and submitted, together with an estimate of the cost, to the board at a future meeting.

The board also considered it desirable to foster as much as possible the formation of boys’ agricultural clubs, and thought that the initiatory steps in the matter should be taken by the farmers in the districts themselves. The Director-General of Agriculture promised that his officers would continue to give every assistance and encouragement to tile movement.

The board also considered the policy to be adopted with regard to the experimental farms and the methods of working them; also the question of retaining some that appear to have served the purpose for which they were originally established. The Director-General of Agriculture gave particulars of the arrangements that were already in hand in this connection. As regards the Moa Seed Farm, the board was informed that a committee had offered to take this over on very fair and reasonable terms and run it as a seed farm for a term of five years with a view of demonstrating what could be done in the way of up-to-date seed growing. The following motion was agreed to: —“That the board hears v it'h satisfaction that the public spirited offer of the committee to take over the Moa Seed Farm for five years is likely to be accepted by the Government. The board is convinced that it is of the utmost importance to the future of farming in New Zealand that farmers sow the highest grade of pure seeds, and this seed farm in a district which is eminently suited for the growth of seed is likely to foster their use.”

Attention was also given to the question of freight rates for stud stock to South American ports. The department had sometime since approached the overseas shipping lines with a view of obtaining reductions in the freight rates on purebred stock, and this had resulted in the companies agreeing to carry sheep to Monte Video at six guineas nett per head, with a minimum freight of £*2oo; and cattle at £3O per head for the first five, £25 for the second, and all over ten at £2O each. It was thought that developments in the export of purebred stock would be very much facilitated if the shipping companies could see their way to still further reduce these charges, and to strike out the condition with regard to the minimum freight of £2OO, which might prevent small shippers sending away stock. 'The department was requested to communicate with the shipping companies, urging them to do something in this direction.

Amongst other matters dealt with were the importation of the greywinged partridge; the Royal Champion Agricultural Show; the planting of heather on the - Tongariro National Park; and the establishment of an island quarantine station for imported plants.