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N.Z. Reminded Of Need For Brains, Experience

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 20. The enthusiasm of the Secretary of Industries and Commerce (Dr. W. B. Sutch) might have blinded some people to the significance of agriculture, Professor T. W. Walker, professor of soil science at Lincoln College, told the annual conference of the Fertiliser Manufacturers’ Research Association today. “I have been wanting to suggest to Dr. Sutch for a long time,” said Professor Walker, “that if he wants to expand a really viable industry, he could do much worse than export superphosphate which could accomplish so much for agriculture in the Pacific region.”

“It is remarkable that in a country such as this, where exports are almost entirely agricultural, the Government has trad to rediscover the significance of agriculture—at least that is my impression over the last few months,” said Professor Walker. “It should be obvious to anyone that our economic welfare is absolutely dependent on tire prosperity of our farmers and their ability to export meat, wool and dairy produce for as long as one can easily foresee. “Our population is rising so fast that unless we take positive action on a longterm basis to step up farm production for export, we shall And ourselves, like the Red Queen in ‘Alice,’ having to run faster and faster merely to stand still.” Professor Walker referred next to Government decisions to hold farm development conferences and to bring in a United Kingdom expert- to investigate the deficieocies of the farm advisory service.

“If it is true,” he said, “that the modern age can be called the age of conferences, then New Zealand is the most advanced country in the world. “I wish I had greater faith in conferences to solve problems. If we’re going to revitalise agriculture, let’s

call a conference or better still a whole series of conferences. The next thing to do is to call in an overseas expert.” Professor Walker, who is an Englishman, said he supposed that calling in someone from overseas was unavoidable. New Zealand was such an egalitarian state that no New Zealander liked to give advice or take it from another New Zealanders. But the Government would listen to an overseas expert.

“I have a pretty good idea of any recommendations that might be made to improve extension work in New Zealand,” said Professor Walker. “Two of the main recommendations will be more staff and higher salaries. "I wonder when our politicians and the man in the street will realise that you have to pay for brains and experience. We need both in agriculture in New Zealand, and we’ve got to pay for them whether we like it nor not. “Tlte intellectual cream of! our schools prefers medicine.! engineering or dentistry. I am too cynical to believe, that this is always because' of their selfless devotion to the welfare of New Zealand. “I have a sneaking suspicion that status and salaries may come into the picture. “Even when we succeed in attracting intelligent men into agriculture, we lose some of them because we’re too short-sighted to look 1 after them. “Since I have been in New Zealand we have lost Fran- : kel, a leading plant breeder; Melville, a leading biochemist, and McMeekan, a leading research worker in animal husbandry. There have been others, too. “With agriculture so vital to our economic well-being, we should be a Mecca for brains in this field, and we should not squander them lightly.”

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19631121.2.74

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 14

Word Count
576

N.Z. Reminded Of Need For Brains, Experience Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 14

N.Z. Reminded Of Need For Brains, Experience Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 14

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