MUCH PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 203, 29 August 1939, Page 10

MUCH PROGRESS.

FARMERS' SERVICES.

KNOWLEDGE BEING SPREAD. GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Progress in important directions, notably in regard to research and aavisory services, was commented on by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, in presenting the annual report for 1938-39 of the Department of Agriculture in the House of Representatives to-day. The report stated that the first duty was to approach the farmers' problem in a scientific and systematic manner, and when investigation had revealed information of value to the primary producer to disseminate that information as widely as possible in a form which could be quickly assimilated and applied. Wherever if was possible, farm* advisory committees were set up to assist the Departmental officers in the work. The most important innovation had been the setting up of an entirely new division of the Department called the animal research division, which came into being in March last. Loss Through Disease. The annual loss to farmers through disease among stock was a heavy one, and the Government was determined to take the fullest measures to alleviate the position. It was estimated during the current financial year that approximately £60,000 would be spent by the Department in prosecuting animal research, and of that amount approximately £#0,000 would be in salaries. Xew laboratories were to be erected at Wallaceville and Ruakura. In connection with sterility investigation in the Waikato, a small commitee had been recently established. N The report added that the Dairying Industry Amendment Act, which "provided for universal dairy farm instruction, was already operating successfully, and both farmers and factories were giving valuable assistance. Another Act which had proved a distinct success was the Remounts Encouragement Act, which would encourage the breeding of light horses. ° Noxious Weeds. Concentrated efforts had been directed at tiie control of noxious weeds, with particular application to ragwort. Generous allowances of labour and material had been granted, and there was no doubt that there had been a substantial improvement in the ragwort position. The amount expended in the year in that connection was £60,000. The report mentions that a committee had been set up to inquire into the lime industry. A Departmental committee made a preliminary investigation, and it had been decided to set up an investigation and advisory committee representative of lime manufacturers, the farmers and the Government. The committee was now conducting its inquiry, and it was anticipated the lime j industry of the Dominion would be [ placed on a sound basis.

The Director-General of Agriculture, Mr. A. H. Cockayne, reported that the sheep return at April 30, 1039, showed that sheep had decreased bv 500 000 during the year. This had erroneously been taken to indicate that the sheep industry had a tendency to decline. The real position in the industry could be satisfactorily measured ofily 'by the rise or fall m the number of breeding ewes and the latest returns show- an "appreciable increase. The most serious position which had arisen in regard to export mutton and lamb was that duriiisr the season the United Kingdom had imposed a quantitative restriction. Export Problem. The endeavour to foster British production must necessitate, for a period at least, some alteration in marketing. ® r export lamb was concerned, there was no need for apprehension that increasing quantities could not ha satisfactorily marketed within quota limits, but a serious position had arisen, and would continue to exist, in the export of aged ewe mutton. The wool clip for the season was moderately heavy, but a disturbing factor had been the low price for fine wools.

Referring to the pig industry, the report stated that, with a drop in butterfat production during the past two seasons of over 16 per cent, it was not surprising that the total weight of pigmeat produced during the year showed a decline of several thousand tons. Reduction was not viewed as being permanent, as prices were satisfaetory and likely to remain so.

Attention was drawn to considerable expansion in beef cattle, an increase of over 20.000 beef cows during the past three years having taken place.