AGRICULTURE IN THE NORTH

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 74, 27 March 1918, Page 7

AGRICULTURE IN THE NORTH

EXPERIMENTAL FARM WANTED. EDUCATION BOARD PROPOSAL. Emanating from a suggestion contained in a report of the visit of inspec- • tion to the North by members of the Auckland Education Board, which was read at the meeting of the Board to-dny, the Board decided to take steps in the direction of acquiring an experimental farm for the North. The report stated inter alia that a matter that impressed itself upon members •ivas the fact that in so large and important a district as North Auckland not a large amount of attention had been paid to the teaching of agriculture or to the introduction of facilities for such teaching. They thought attention should be paid to this. It ivas admitted that greater difficulty existed in obtaining reeiilts from tlie soil of the North than from the lighter volcanic areas, but the benefits that would ultimately accrue from the scientific treatment 'of these huge areas -would lie infinitely greater than those to be obtained from" the relatively smaller volcanic belt. An agricultural farm of instruction, similar to that at Euakura might well, it seemed to them, be recommended to the Department for establishment. ■Jlr. Garland expressed, appreciation lor the' report, especially the portion dealing with the question of assistins the teaching of agriculture. He considered the Board should spare no effort in urging upon the Minister of .Education the extreme urgency of taking such steps as might be necessary to establish a similar institution on the great northern peninsula as the Minister of Agriculture had established at Kuakura and at other centres in this island. Mr. Banks hoped that the suggestion would be kept in view by the Board, and impressed upon the Minister. He proposed that a committee consisting of the chairman (Mr. J. D. Mackenzie), Mr. Smith, and Mr. Garland be appointed a committee to approach A. and P. Societies, branches of the Farmers' Union, and Chambers of Commerce in the North in regard to the acquisition of an experimental farm in the North. He was of the opinion that the Ruakura Experimental Farm was of no use to the North, as the land experimented on in the Waikato was entirely different to that in the North. ■Mγ. Garland seconded the proposal, and it wae -carried unanimously.