EXPERIMENTAL FARM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

EXPERIMENTAL FARM

CENTENNIAL PROJECT IN NORTH AUCKLAND. DISCUSSION AT WHANGAREI. A lengthy discussion took place at a meeting of the Whangarei subprovincial executive of‘‘the Farmers’ Union as to the value of State experimental farms. A letter from the Northland Pig Council suggested that the establishment of an experimental farm in the north would be an appropriate Centennial memorial and requested the union to appoint a delegate to a conference that was to be called to discuss the proposal. There was a difference of opinion as to the value of experimental farms. Some members said that the State farms that had been established had not proved of benefit to farmers, but these views did not meet with the support of all. A demonstration farm controlled by the farmers themselves was advocated by a section as opposed to a State controlled farm, while other members thought that more attention should be devoted to the teaching cf agriculture in the secondary schools. Finally it was agreed that some institution providing agricultural instruction would be the best Centennial memorial to the pioneer farmers cf North Auckland, and Mr A. IJ. Moore, president, was appointed the union delegate to bring these views before the proposed conference. The assistance given farmers by the fields division of the Agriculture Department in the establishment of demonstration plots in various localities and in the arranging for field days for farmers was appreciated by speakers. It was also considered that the data obtained from the soil survey of the Whangarei district, which has just.b.een completed, would prove invaluable to farmers.