GRAIN STATISTICS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13683, 17 March 1910, Page 4

GRAIN STATISTICS.

DISCUSSION BY THE FARMERS' UNION.

At yesterday's meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers' Uiirfm the now system of estimating tlie grain yields was briefly discussed. Tim Hon. 11.I 1 . Mackenzie wroto as follows regarding the Executive's lettor on the subject of agricultural and pastoral statistics:—"l have' the henour to inform you that this matter was very carefully considered before t.lie system of estimated yields, adopted during, tho present season, was decided u-ion. hi looking into the matter duo -weight was given to the many representation!* of tlie Farmers' Union and othor bodies, to tho effoct that the system previously followed was giving jmsntisfnetory results; tho exponent-© of the old system had also t»> be borne in mind. Alter consulting the responsible officers of the Department. I came to the conclusion that the method of obtaining estimates from aj number of reliable and intelligent farmers, grain merchants. ott\,. would hot. only effect n saving of nearly £'400<> pi;r annum, hut would give results more reliable than those previously obtained. The system refern»d to was. therefore, adopted, and with duo respect to the opinion of your E.\ecruti?e. I may My has given satisfwtion to most persons interested in the subject. I may add. that from a .publication just to hand. T find that the Government Statistician of Tasmania has. for this season, adopted whet appears to be exactly the same system as'that used, in the Dominion." Reference was mado to the previr.ns resolutions arrived at by the Executive on the subject, which, when they Were reed, proved to be oontradicWy, the first havinc Boon passed at a meetinj-; attended by several members who were not present when the second was passed. Tho opinion *w:i<: ex- l--pressod by Mr Horrell 'hat the Executive must armryir in an unfavourable litrht to the Minister to whom tlie resolutions were forwarded.

Tt w.ijs decided to receive the Minister's letter.