FARM RESEARCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1938, Page 3

FARM RESEARCH

CO-OPERATION AMONG WORKERS IN NEW ZEALAND. REPLY TO CRITICISM. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 4. “I was very surprised to read the remarks attributed -to Mr Warren, of Darfield, a member of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, speaking at a district conference yesterday in reference to farm research and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research,” said Dr E. Marsden, Secretary of the Department of Industrial Research. “I take it that Mr Warren’s reference to farm research does not include the whole activities of the Department. “The Dr Hammond referred to in the resolution under discussion visited New Zealand at the invitation of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to advise on animal production and particularly on nutritional aspects of animal disease. A copy of his report was forwarded confidentially to the secretary and president of the Farmers’ Union a fortnight ago, with the information that it would be published in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Science and Technology, which is expected to be issued next week. “Dr Hucker was a private visitor to New Zealand and, apart from the benefit of discussion with him, so far as I know no report on organisation has been received from him.

“As an example of the value of the Department’s work in farm research, may I remind Mr Warren that the solving of one of the outstanding stock disease problems of the Dominion, namely, cobalt deficiency, was carried out by a team of workers sponsored by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and recently the Wool Publicity Committee, of which Mr Warren is a member, granted the sum of £5OO for the furtherance of this work and the wider application of the results.

“With regard to co-ordination of research, it can truly be said that there is far more co-operation amongst the Department’s institutions and workers carrying out research in New Zealand than in any other country, or at any time previously in New Zealand, and the arrangements are such that full and efficient team work is brought to bear on national objectives. “Following a request from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the Department agreed to an advisory committee of farmers to act in association with the Department’s activities in Canterbury, particularly the 1 diseases and breeding of fields crops by the Agronomy Division, Lincoln College. Again this Department has offered the Canterbury Progress League to inaugurate in conjunction with and based on work at- Lincoln College, a comprehensive soil and crop survey of the whole district as a ground' work for animal disease surveys, particularly those of a nutritional origin.

“With regard to the reported remarks of another speaker that it might be advisable to send a man to Denmark to study methods of controlling losses in stock, it should be noted that, in addition to obtaining Dr Hammond’s report the Government has sent overseas Dr Hopkirk, the head of the Wallaceville Laboratory, for that precise purpose.

“I shall be glad at any time to answer the questions raised by Mr Warren before either the central executive of the Farmers’ Union or any district conference.”