PROPOSED STATE FARM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9290, 11 August 1920, Page 6

PROPOSED STATE FARM

QUESTION OF LOCATION,

ASHBURTON'S SUITABILITY

ACCESSIBILITY A FACTOR.

The establishment of a State farm in the Ashburton : County has' many points to recommend it,- as farmers have already set out in interviews published in the "Guardian." Opinion, in the County is strongly in favour of pressing the Government to reveal its' intentions in regard ,to the State farm in the South'lsland to which there was brief reference in the Financial Statement recently brought down by the Prime Minister. It' is ,fel,t that, with the many demands upon" the Government, this proposal can only be realised by strongly urging its fulfilment upon the Government and by giving very cogent reasons in support of the representations made. That the State farm should be situated .in the Ashburton County is considered most desirable and fitting in the opinion of • County residents, whose further views are published herewith. MR C. REID'S ARGUMENTS.

' Mr Charles Reid, who has long been connected with agricultural and pastoral as well as educational bodies in the County, said there could be no question of the necessity for a State farm to study the requirements of South Island agriculturists as distinct from those of the North Island. In this direction the Department of Agriculture had in no way helped the South, while the North Island benefited from the establishment of three State farms, at least. The South Island had its own problems due to differences in soil and climate, and these problems must receive separate treatment .according to conditions obtaining here. As only one State farm was proposed for the South Island, said Mr Reid, it was necessary that it should serve as completely as possible the needs of farmers all over the Island. The Ashburton County was the nearest approach,.to be found of the general conditions < as to climate, and was centrally situated. Further, the variety of soils to be found within its boundaries,; often contained in quite a small area, would allow of experiments. % being made applicable to the farming of light,, medium, or heavy soils. Whether, it ' was proposed to enquire into" pastoral, agricultural, or dairying methods, this County was admirable for the purpose, ; and land suitable for any of these branches of , fanning could "often be found within small compass. ' State farms were of benefit, Mr Reid, pointed out,, not only, for the educative value of experiments, but because they sold high-class stock and seeds to the farmer for his own use. Referring particularly to the growing of seeds, Mr Reid contended that much more could be done in this County than' had been accomplished in the pnst. .Taking- 1915 as a year before the war had begun seriously to afltectt commercial relations with other ■countries, Mr Reid said that in that year New Zealand exported seeds to the value of only £64.045, whereas imports totalled*'£327,29o, the bulk Wntr pusses and clovers from the United Kingdom. The balance in the exchange was against New Zealand in 1915. and reference to the Year Book would show that this was not an isolated case. There was no reason for this heavy annual bill for seeds imported, Mr Reid considered, as it had been .amply demonstrated that splendid clovers, grasses, and cocksfoot sped could be grown in this County. The supply of seed for • seed ■ crops from a State farm should do much to encourage this industry. The climate in the County -was ideal for the purpose, seed crops having a better chance of.maturing _ than if, grown further south. Similarly with"-its climatic advantages, if the' industry was properly developed it was absurd to suppose there was any need for New Zealand to import seeds. Rather as a result of the encouragement from a State farm, Ashburton County could lead the way in launching a considerable seed export business. The' speaker proceeded to speak of the value of a State farm in improving the breads of stock, especially dairying stock, in this County. He also spoke of the valuable work to be done iij wheat-growing and fodder crop experiments. OPINIONS OF MR W. T. LILL. Mr W. T. LiM said one of the chief reasons why Ashourton should be selected as the district for the establishment of the proposed State farm was the indifferent treatment which it I had so far received: in regaa'd to the existing experimental .area. Ashburton would be quite content to fall in with the Department's.' desire to shelve the experimental area if it received 'in compensation the South Island State farm. It would be good policy ■to sacrifice the lesser to obtain the greater object. At the 1 same time, if the State farm was to- be established in the County, he hoped it would be in as central a, position as the present experimental area. ■-. Mr Lill stressed the value of accessibility.. In an agricultural district such as Ashburton, it was of the very first importance that every opportunity should be taken to inculcate knowledge concerning our primary industry. For that purpose, the present situation of the experimental area was ideal f.o.r the proposed State farmj and if a." larger area wa-« required for the latter, Mr Lill understood there would be no difficulty in acquiring about 80 acres of good land adjoining.

: It. was the opinion of the Department for Agriculture, continued Mir Lill,. that the variety of the soils^ in the present area mitigated against the success ol experimental work.. Science required certain fixed conditions with a single condition variable in order to secure exact ie.sults in experiments. But the v.unrMl'ity of the' soils in the present area was not so great as to prevent di-.ii; c and comprehensive experimentl; Lmg earned out on' each c>ks of soil, la his opinion, said Mr Lill,- the cla ses of soil available on tho present area were re-

presentaitive of .the soils of Canterbury and on one area, therefore, the Department should be able to concentrate work -which: in its results-should be valuable to farmers on every kind of land in the province. If with the addition of the land available and closely adjoining, the scope was not sufficient-for'the-work of a State farm, Mr Lill considered some of tine "hfeavy land below..'.Ha-mpstead might be acquired for extension. Thu^ the State fs-rav would .-bo closely adjacent to tbo educational institutions and provide a, valuable field for the practical study of agriculture besides- . being near the County centime foir district fairmers and an easy distance from ■-railway station, and miain road© for visitors from futrthea- .afield. • "Themoire I 'examine.--the. , question, the more I am convinced that Ashburton is the ideal location for a State farm, which is to serve South Island agriculturists," 'concluded Mr Lill. .'■■'-