The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3100, 28 May 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1892.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

We are glad to learn that the forthcoming conference between delegates of the Agricultural aud Pastoral Associations is likely to be largely attended by representative men—men who, from their experience and standing, will command for the question they disciass the earnest attention of Parliament and the Executive. New Zealand is behind the neighbouring colonies in that she has not an Agricultural Department, with thoroughly competent experts on the staff, prepared to give advice and assistance whenever required. New South Wales and Victoria have departments which have collected a vast amount of information, and by means of pamphlets and through the Press have afforded much useful information to farmers by bringing their scientific training co bear apon the facts thus placed at their disposal. The rapid stride ahead in the dairy industry of Victoria is attributable in a large decree to the assistance ♦he department has afforded the farmers. The returnsi show that the export of butter from that colony three years back amounted to only four hundred tons. Last year more than two thousand tons loft her ports. This large increase was due in the first place to the dissemination of information as to the best means of dealing wiith the milk, and in the second to the offering of bonuses for the establishment of creameries. It will be a matter for the consideration of the confere.ncr whether Parliament should bo urged to grant similar bonuses in this country. As a matter of equity, they would certainly be entitled to ask that this should be done. Vast sums have been spent in developing goldfields, thp yield from which is always shrouded in doubt, and subsidies of a more or less speculative nature have been granted. For our part, unless a very strong case can be demonstrated in its favour, -we believe that subsidies should not be granted. What we mean by a strong case i» that in the

absence of Government assistance mi industry could not be established, ami that every probability exists that if once established it would soon be able to stand alone, and by the application of private oapital and energy add to the wealth of the country. In the case of the butter industry in this colony, so peculiarly is the country 6tted for its prosecution that we believe no extraneous aid is necessary. There is little doubt in our mind that the day is not very distant when New Zealand will be recognised as the greatest producer of dairy produce in the world. However, as we pointed out lately, tho greatest care will have to be exercised that unskilful or unscrupulous men are prevented by legislation from exporting an inferior article. The duty of securing this would, of course, devolve upon the Agricultural Department, and the oxperts employed to classify would be under the control of the Minister holding the portfolio. There is only one matter in which New Zealand is at a disadvantage, her geographical position places her at greater distance from the European markets than any of her competitors. This fact will no doubt be considered by the conference, and the Railway Commissioners urged to fix the rate of freight at the lowest possible figure; this is a form of subsidy which country producers have a right to ask. We look upon the establishment of an Agricultural Department as the most important resolution the conference will have to consider, there would then be a recognised body upon which to place pressure and such matters as the appointment of competent veterinary surgeons to diagnose diseases, and advise as to the remedy whether curative or preventative would follow. As a contemporary has pointed out, in Germany in the case of an outbreak of disease a surgeon ie sent to investigate, and when by observation he has arrived at an opinion, he calls the farmers' together and explains the nature of the disease, its probable cause, and the remedv which in his opinion is calculated'to be effective. Another important matter would devolve upon the department; the prevention of the sale of spurious subtances as manures- An Act would have to be passed which should make it compulsory on every dealer to sell by analysis, with penal clauses of sufficient severity to stamp out an evil which has unfor« tunately become too common. It would be the duty of the depart- ( ment to provide facilities for the making of these analyses. The conference will have justice on their side if they ask all that we have pointed out. If they can secure the department and a competent staff of expert officers, the rost will follow.