DIAGNOSTIC STATION

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 7

DIAGNOSTIC STATION

Reason Given For Delay

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 23. The failure of the producer boards to agree is the principal reason why a diagnostic station has not yet been established in the South Island. This is made clear in a letter from the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Skinner) received by Mr M. # A. Connelly (Government, Riccarton) tonight. The Government has promised to build and maintain a diagnostic station in the South Island provided the producer boards are prepared to participate in the building and maintenance of subsequent stations oh a two-to-one basis. Mr Skinner’s letter came from inquiries which arose out of discussions Mr Connelly and Mr R. G. Gerard (Opposition, Ashburton) had with representatives of the farming industry in Ashburton recently. Mr Skinner said that the previous Minister of Agriculture had held numerous discussions with the producer boards to try to reach some agreement on diag nostic station, sites and finance. However, he had found it impossible to get the boards to agree.

“I have asked the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture to call an early meeting of representatives of the boards to discuss the matter afresh,” said Mr Skinner. “If the boards are prepared to agree to any reasonable proposals, I will place these before the Government in the hope that at least one diagnostic station can be established in the South Island in the near future.”