LEVIN EXPERIMENT FARM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 162, 2 April 1908, Page 8

LEVIN EXPERIMENT FARM.

r / STATEMENT BY MR. M'NAB. -REPLY TO RECENT CRITICISM.(FilOM oun SPECIAL CORBESTOKDBNiv)'' : Levin, April 1. , Mr. .R; R. Gardener, Mayor of L'ovin, has, received a'reply from the Hon. Mr. M,' Nab ,: Minister for. Lands, in reference to tho public meeting held in connection with the dairy school' site.: The letter reads as follows:: — " His Worship the . Mayor, -Levin. . "Dear Sir, —I beg to acknowledge tho.receipt of, your letter of date the 24th inst.-, fonvarding copies of: resolutions passed at a public meeting, held at Levin on the evening of tho 21st inst. Resolution 1, on tlio question of tho site of tho dairy school—The decision of the public , mooting in this connection will bo noted, biit I cannot help thinking that if tho meeting 1 had been awaro of the fact that the Agricultural Department's dairy expert did not report strongly in favour of the Levin oxperimental /farm, as a site , for the dairy school, and that Cabinet consequently did riot reject his report by fixing the site at Palmerst-on, tho form of the resolution tendered ivould - havo undergone a material 'alteration. • .- " Resolution 2, on tho questiori. of - the future of tho farm—The annual report-of the Departm-snt gil/es full information on the work dqno -at the Experimental Farm, and ;I am' giving - instructions for a copy to be forwarded for, your information.' The, intensions of tho Government in regard to. the farms havo been ■ repeatedly the subject of public- 'reference by various Ministers, arid cho Press'of tho ; Dominion have on all occasions ; given the. widest-publfteity to all.their utterances.' Unfortunately, I -have:no copies of.'.these,' papers, at hand, .but will, on the next occasion of any reference, remember your desire "to bo advised, and will forward you a copy of the- report. . . .. " The superintendent of tho farm and myself would 'be only too pleased to have /indicated tho 'definite experiments', desired to bp.carried , out, to see .whether they aro praotical, or whether they have already been nut into effect, and the results published. In all tHeso matters you will appreciate my desire tp have, tho advico of . tho Department's experts on the question of experiments, and tho public meeting will, I feel sure, not consider that I regard their suei;estions as . unworthy of consideration, if. in carrying oil tho Experimental Farm, I show a preference for tho opinions,,.'of the experts over those, of the public, me<yt:'lig. " The attention of the suoorintendent of tho Experimental Farnjs 'will bo drawn to that part of the resolution which'.declares it to be advisable for. the Dominion to got rid of tho Lti'in -.Farm if tho views of tho public meeting are not given effect to.— Yours faithfully, • " (Signed) ROBERT M'NAB."