More Advice, Research Education

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31167, 17 September 1966, Page 10

More Advice, Research Education

A more intensive advisory service, more research in support of agriculture and more education for farmers are Advocated by Mr P. G. Morrison, of Darfield, in his report on his recent visit to Britain under a Nuffield Foundation travelling scholarship.

“The impression I gained was that if New Zealand agriculture is to develop against increasing competition our advisory services must be more intensive,” he commented.

“We have many very capable and enthusiastic officers in the farm advisory service in New Zealand. However, to attract the top graduates to enter this field they should be paid as trained professional men—not as labourers as at present.” Noting that the British Ministry of Fisheries, Food and Agriculture had 13 experimental husbandry farms where it put the latest scientific findings into practice and where field days attracted a great number of farmers, Mr Morrison said this was without doubt the best

link between the scientist and the practical farmer and thought it should be a matter for serious consideration for New Zealand. “New Zealand will have to consider increasing the amount of research which we are doing if we wish to retain our place as an efficient agricultural producer,” he continued. “. . . any thoughts that I had on our supremacy in agricultural production were quickly dispelled. We may have led the way 20 years ago, but we have been quickly overhauled, and unless the Government takes the matter seriously in the next decade we will be well back in the field. . .

“I have always felt that for ah agricultural country too few of our farmers have an agricultural education—now I am certain.

“I feel that in the future, with the ever-increasing capital involved in farming, more farmers should have the opportunity of an agricultural education. We should consider giving those who have obtained School Certificate level a bursary to do a twoyear diploma course at one of our universities. If this was done in conjunction with demonstration farms throughout the country, the long-term effect would be a more progressive agriculture. No country in the world requires a higher standard of farm management in the future than New Zealand.”