AGRICULTURAL BOARD FOR WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2460, 17 April 1888, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL BOARD FOR WAIKATO.

Last week whilst in Auckland, Mr Primrose, the. chairm in of the coiiiinittee appointed to till;'.: such steps- as may hi! necessary with a vi«w to the establishment of Agricultural Boards in the colony, but more particularly in the. districts composed in the Waikato Hospital District, accompanied by Capt. Mcl'herson, Mia actinghonorary secretary paid a visit to the American Consul for the purpose of soliciting any information which he could alfor.l relative to the working of like institutions in Amorion. They wero introduced to the Consul by Mr J. Hugo Harrop, dish-ict agent for the NV.w York Insurance 0 mi p.-iny, anil were vory kindly received. Mr Campbell .stated, in answer to questions, that in America tho.ro was si Xational Department of Ayriculturo at Washington city, the main object of which was to gather and publish information ir, the interests of agriculture. That in each State thoro is a Board r,l Agricultuie, which receives mid promulgates the statistics or other matter supplied by the Central Board. They are incorporated by law in the same way a< our local government boards, but havo no rating or taxing power?. They, however, are subsided by the <lovornnißut in tho State of California to which the Con-ml h'.'longs, the amount so obtained being £10,000 (not dollars) per annum. Their duty is, -\s above state I, to receive and promulgate information of value to farmers, obtain plants or seeds and distribute them, and to hold exhibition «r shows which Mr Campbell thinks are self-supporting from fees or entry monies. He, however, advised thudeputation to Write to the Commissioner of Agriculture, at Washington, and to the Sourctary of the "State Agricultural Society of California," who ho had no doubt would give full information as to tho duties and power of their respective departnisnts. He added that he would write himself by first mail recommending that an application for information would receive favourable attention. Tho de> putation bavins: cordially thanked the Consul for his kindly reception and information, withdrew.