Farmers disappointed at decision

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33110, 28 December 1972, Page 11

Farmers disappointed at decision

A decision of the former Minister of Science, .Mr Gandar, not to approve the J establishment of a coordinating council for research into pasture pests was disappointing, said the chairman of the provincial executive of Mid-Canter- ; bury Federated Farmers (Mr J. G. Humm) at the executive's monthly meeting recently. ■ This decision had come i after a request from the I Dominion Executive of the j federation, which had cited < increased damage done by pasture pests throughout I New Zealand and the overjail deterioration in the abil- ' ity of many farmers to cope 'adequately with the problem. Recent reports that a major pest, the white-fringed weevil. had spread from the Fairton infestation, found last July, to the fringes of adjoining paddocks and the finding of a second infestation near the South Island Main Trunk railway was regarded as a serious threat which affected potato, lucerne. pea. and clover crops. The reports were discussed at the meeting. A vice-chairman of the executive, Mr R. MacKenzie. described the pest as being; complementary to grass grub,; which caused millions of dol-

lars of damage to CanterI bury crops each year. In written submissions to Mr Gandar. the executive had said that a considerable in- ; crease in research allocated to pasture pests was needed Ito prevent the farming industry from losing further 'ground in its efforts to combat pest damage on farms It had suggested the establishment of a national pas- • ture pests research and co- : ordinating advisory commit- ■ tee. comprising representaI fives from the Ministry of ■ Agriculture and Fisheries, the . Agricultural Chemicals Board land the Director of Entomology. D.5.1.R.. together with representatives from the federation. It was also sug- ■ gested that more funds be made available for research, -and that a comprehensive rei view be conducted on these problems. In correspondence reply ing to the executive’s requests. Mr Gandar had said that there were at present about 45 persons from the D.5.1.R.. the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the universities. involved in research mn the control of pasture insects—the greatest concentration of scientific effort, (conducted on an agricultural; j production programme in New 7°aland. Thp nrn-

gramme covered a «ide range manv avenues attached to the problem were being explored Mr Gandar sa<d he thought the functions of a < >c'd-n.ii ing committee were already performed by the N.RAi which had a committee sys teni working to deal with agriculture. This committee was surveying the whole tield of agricultural research, and investigating aspects of pasture insects. This committee. Mr Gan dar said, might well set up its own working parties in areas where it considered these could make useful con tributions. The D.S.I.R. and Ministry of Agriculture also collaborated very closely on the problems, and a commit lee involved in pasture-pest research met annually to ex amine progress on future pro grammes. The provincial executive decided at the meeting to ex press its disappointment at Mr Gandar’s decision, and to make a further effort to have I the co-ordinating council I established An Eiffelton branch remit seeking the vigorous pressing forward of grass-grub research was adopted unami mously, and will be forwai 'ded to the dominion council of Federated Farmers.