Agricultural Advisory Committee To Continue

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32011, 11 June 1969, Page 10

Agricultural Advisory Committee To Continue

The North Canterbury Agricultural Advisory Committee decided this week that it had an important role to play and should continue to function. The future of the committee was raised by Mr A. F. Wright, who said that the committee was an essential part of the country’s new type of farming. The committee was the only one which involved representatives of ail sections of farming and agricultural services and it performed a valuable function, said the chairman (Mr R. H. Bedford).

The work done by the committee was of great benefit to all sections which were represented on it and a great deal of information was obtained through its work, said Mr A. Billborough. “The committee must continue to meet while the sub-commit-tees are working in the background.” ‘The time may be coming when the committee will have much more work to do if there is a dangerous fall in the number of stock or sheep,” said Mr B. de C. Thomson. ‘lt will have to deal

with the Common Market problem and it would be a pity to see it disband.”

The committee was very representative of the real force behind the economy and could be called on at any time to provide financial assistance and advice, Mr T. George said. The farming community could make more use of the committee. Canterbury was fortunate in having such a great diversification of farming, Mr M. H. Rogers said. There was a tremendous advantage in the| contacts made between the i banks, accounts, stock and station agents and farmers through the committee. “We must keep going to retain our contacts,” he said. “We must report early on, what is happening and take action,” said Mr G. T. Mars.. “There is a lack of informa-1 tion from the body up north I It is a struggle to get statistics. Accurate and up-to-date figures are required and wc must be a better barometer than we are.” Mr Bedford, who has been chairman of the committee since its formation three years ago, was re-elected. There were no other nominaI tions.