CROP STATISTICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 8

CROP STATISTICS.

«— —— A WORLD-WIDE SCHEME. ADDRESS TO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. At'the meeting of the Chamber, of Comnerco last evening, Mr. J. Houston, introluced to' members by the president as "a Scotchman, like myself, and lately from America," gave an address in regard to the international Institute of Agriculture, which s now holding its annual conference in itome, with tho High Commissioner present is New Zealand's representative. Mr. Houston said that tho originator of ;ho schemo fostered by the Institute was a ivealthy American citizen, David Lubin, who had made a study of the economic, evils of the world. Hp considered that tho farmers ivero the chief wealth producers of the world, and ho'saw that there was'. little combination or brganisation in their , industry. All prices for agricultural products were now fixed in a world market, but they were fixed in a haphazard, careless manner. Nobody knew how much crop was growing or was likely ; to bo on tho market. Then tho price manipulator stepped in with his corners in wheat and other staples, with the result that there was 'constant uncertainty, Lubin conceived tho idea of getting all the nations of tho world to co-operate in obtain' ing statistics of farm crops, labour, ant everything of servico to tho farmer. ' AI present thero was only, ono nation that hai a, really live. system of collecting such in formation, and that was tho United States Lubin appealed to tho King of Italj to take up his scheme,thinking that if it ■ was taken up h] ono of the more important Powers jealous; would be aroused amongst the others, l'hi King of Italy approved the idea, and i was decided to call a congress of all nation to discuss tho question. At this congress which was held in Rome some years ago and at which over 40 countries -were repre sented, tho International Agricultural In stifoito' was founded. It consisted, of • : General Assembly," elected by _ tho variou nations, and a Standing Committee, elnotei by tho General Assembly, and comprisini experts from all over the world. Tho cos of collecting the international statistics, witl other oxpenses, was set down at £34,000 yoar, and it was agreed that this bo pro portionally divided amongst, different nc tions. Tho' movement - was entiroly' non political. The aims of tho Instituto.includei ■such possible developments as universal cro insurance. This had been tried in th 'United States, but had always come to grie in a bad season.• ' Mr. G. Shirtclilfe said'.ho gathered, fror its representation at tho Conference, tha New Zealand had joined tho Instituto, an would contribute its quota of information Ho thought that however well tho statistic were prepared it would be difficult to got ri of speculation. Also, tho absenco of stati: tics out both ways. The speculators did nc always como out on top, and local produce] had sometimes obtained very extremo price for their products,, simply, as ho. believet through absence cf information as to tli world's supplies. Sir. J. M'Lollan thought favourably c tho scheme. A hoarty'vote of thanks . was passed t Mr. Houston for his. address.