Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1920. STATE FARM FOR COUNTY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9290, 11 August 1920, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1920. STATE FARM FOR COUNTY.

A very real opportunity presents itself, to the Ashburton County farmers in the proposal made! by the Prime Minister, to establish a State' Farm 1 in the South Island. There is ; every reason why the State Farm 'sHbuld be located in this district and no apparent reason why it should not. But in these days of political ■favour, - the farin< '-will nojt',. come here of itself. Farmers must be prepared to agitate if they are going to receive the benefit of having the State Farm established in this 1 County. The advantages accruing will, however, be worth the effort. To be able to purchase high-class pedigree stock for the improvement of flocks, and cattle herds and "purebred" seeds with a Government guarantee—surely these are considerations of the first importance to the'agriculturist. It is certain there will be many claimants for the solitary South ..Island State Fanny for the , profit is certain and 1 the 'liability nil.' It behoves !Ash|>urt^ii thereforej/tp enter its claim; fiflsjt and- |o;-maintain; that priority;i to back its title by producing sound-! deeds to the right iof -'possession';;:-''to emphasise the ill' fulfilnlent.Q'f the promise of an experimental area; and to assert the establishment of a State Farm as^just compensation. The case for .^ State F^rm at Ashburton is a'/siirong- one, as witnessed by the several interviews already published in the "Guardian." It is made stronger still when Ashburton has the right to retain as counsel lor the prosecution of its claim, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, 'Ministei^'for Agriculture. With so powerful an ally, County farmers' associations should be, able >to prevail on the Prim^ Minister to crystallise his proposal to establish a State Farm in the South Island into' a decision to locate it at Ashburton. But the Government is not easily moved, and the moving force must havVyVeight and strength and tenacity behind it. The- 4'armers of the County have, alj /these prerequisites for achieving success if they will use them. If all the agricultural and pastoral i associations and farmers' unions, alhthe road boards with the County Council, the secondary and r tcchnical schools governing bodips—if afl'ihese will work severally and unitedly towards the 1 one end—a State Farm for Ashburton—then we feel assured the Government would feel the weight/behind the representations, and a long step would be taken towards the goal striven for. The campaign could be | begun by the harassing attack of individual bodies firing resolutions at; Wellington;' it could be continued by a large- public meeting representative of the whole County,' which would express the interest .and enthusiasm of a large bcrrty of electors in the project iand, which coul,d appqint o deputation, to proceed jtp Wellington to-state'Ashbuftoji'sca|e and press for'an;ap r swer''.toi'it;s. i r ; e'quest. i This sliould^be /: dpnfe The'element of surprise hrings success-'fiilarer-in' war; 'to..steal (a; march-on yoiir opponents is often to gain the desired objeoti ye. Before other districts have framed; demands, Ashlrarton; intist i complete its plans, and, .bear; off 'the prize.; ' CoiifHcfi-iig claims dllay^ciecisions, anH ' ' ciho early biijcL gejts '". the worm -fr-atid in thisi caseiai.plaGe..tp domicile ••it ;1 tlte^dils^of 'the' StWto.lfarin.: We feel sure, if Ashburton- acts j promptly, unitedly, mad «itii '

energy in this matter, that the intrinsic merits of the district as a site for the South Island State Farm will weigh down the balance in "its favour and Ashburton will gain the decision.