H.—29a

12

The Board consider that this is a question which the Government alone can decide, but they think that very careful consideration should be given to it, and if the Government is satisfied that the company is in the nature of a trust, they should consider whether it would not be in the interests of the Dominion to take the necessary legal powers to prohibit the company from establishing works as proposed. " The Board are also of opinion that the question of the nationality of the shareholders of the company is so obscure that until the Government is satisfied that the company is a neutral or British company it should be considered to be an enemy company and permission to start manufacture in New Zealand be withheld. " The history of the operations of the Nestle Milk Trust in Australia is evidence that it is a danger to ordinary trading." Kitchener Memorial Scholarship. We were informed that through the generosity of Colonel the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., who had donated £1,000 as a nucleus for the purpose, scholarships to be known as Kitchener Memorial Scholarships had been established, open to the competition of sons of New Zealand soldiers who have been on active service during the present war. Although the Board itself could do nothing in the matter of subscribing, it expressed complete concurrence with the proposal, and hoped that funds would be available for several scholarships to be granted to candidates who were successful in being selected. Instructional Classes in Agriculture for Boys in Towns. Several of the Education Boards in New Zealand have been making strong efforts to afford town youths an opportunity of acquiring the elements of agricultural training, thus fitting them to obtain situations on farms. . The Board are fully in sympathy with the movement, as they feel that it is essential work if we are going to encourage the greatest of all our industries, which in the circumstances warrants a still further extension of classes of instruction in this direct ioirT Amusements-tax. on Agricultural and Pastoral Show Tickets. We had forwarded to us correspondence in reference to the amusements-tax on agricultural and pastoral show tickets. A sub-committee was appointed to wait on the Commissioner of Stamps with a view of going into the matter and seeing whether any arrangement could be come to in respect of the tax which would be satisfactory both to the Stamp Department and the agricultural and pastoral associations. This was subsequently settled as the result of an interview between the Hon. Minister of Finance and representatives of the agricultural and pastoral associations, and legislation was passed last session exempting agricultural and pastoral associations from paying the tax. Amendment of the Fertilizers Act Although there are several amendments which the Board think it necessary to make to the Fertilizers Act, 1908, the time is not opportune to bring the matter before Parliament. It is, however, hoped that a Bill will be prepared for introducing into the House next session. To this end a member of the Board has been appointed to go into the various questions with officers of the Department of Agriculture. There are other subjects of a minor nature which the Board dealt with, but which do not need to be mentioned in this report. We should, however, like to say how gratifying it is to find that the Taranaki farmers have taken up experimental work on a farm at Stratford in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture. Although most of the members of the Board have not had an opportunity of inspecting this, it gives us great pleasure to record the fact that from what we hear it is going to be of very great value to the farmers in the district. The Board is still of opinion that the Department of Agriculture should be reorganized. I have, &c, J. G. Wir.soN, President of the Board.

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