Study And Advice On Farm Services

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 14

Study And Advice On Farm Services

(New Zealana Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 28.

A senior officer of the British Ministry of Agriculture will spend up to two years examining and reporting on the farm advisory services of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture if current negotiations are successful.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) said today that the proposal was discussed by the permanent Secretary to the British Ministry of Agriculture, Sir John Winnifrith, and the chairman of the State Services Commission, Mr L A Atkinson, when the latter was in Britain recently. “Sir John Winnifrith was keen to help and saw much merit in the proposal.” said Mr Taiboys. The Minister said that such an examination would be particularly opportune as a new director of the Farm Advisory Division, Mr S. H. Saxby, had just beep appointed. “Advisory services will be called on heavily to implement decisions arising from the forthcoming agricultural development conference, which is expected to set production targets to meet the requirements of our expanding economy,’’ said Mr Taiboys. “How best to stimulate production by fresh approaches or by different methods must be a question on which success will largely depend,” said Mr Taiboys. “There is a pressing need to increase production. The reservoir of unimproved land suitable for large-scale development is almost exhausted, and it is evident that increased export income from primary production will have to come from our existing grasslands." he said. “One of the most important

ways in which the Government helps farmers is by giving instruction and advice,” said Mr Taiboys. "Great progress could be made if even existing scientific knowledge were fully applied on farms, so a more intensive advisory service must help appreciably towards attaining our ends. “We need more advisory officers and improved methods of communication between research and advisory workers and farmers,'* said Mr Taiboys. He said the negotiations with the British Ministry of Agriculture would be pursued with a view to the selected expert beginning his tour of duty in New Zealand as early as possible in the New Year.