BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 8

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

BUSINESS OF LAST MEETING,

The Board of Agriculture mot in mellington. recently,; all tho members being present. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) also attended the meeting. The proposal of the Stratford A. and i.. Association that a model dairy farm run on commercial lines, should bo established m Taranaki, was discussed at length, and it was decided, before making anv recommendation, to obtain luller details, which could be considered at a later meeting. In reference to the reported commandeering of a steamer which is used to convey phosphate rock from the Pacific Islands to New Zealand, it was decided to point out to the Governthat jf this steamer was withdrawn from sorvice,jt would mean that practically no phosphate manures could be imported, as basic'slag and superphosphate are increasingly difficult to obtain.

The administration of tho Noxious ■needs Act was discussed at some length. This is a master upon which the Minister of Agriculture has asked for the recommendations of tho board. It was decided that a report embodying the board's. views on the subjcct be prepared' for presentation' to the Minister. \ ■ The; board has received a lengthy and comprehensive statement from Professor L.H. Bailey, of Cornell University, New York, sotting out the lines on which he considers rural education could best be-_conducted. ; in New Zealand...Ut vas decided- to- write .thanking the Professor for his report; although it is unlikely that; much use can-We made of it Until after .the war.' . -

Attention' was called to the spread, of club-root in various parts of New- Zealand, and it was decided to-ask -the Minister of Agriculture to have an investigation .carried out as ,to .the causes of this disease/, and-the means; calculated to prevent its spread/ The necessity, .for- the -retention-;.; of Nelson- as a 'grading"and 'inspecting port for export fruit was brought under the notice of the Minister or Agriculture, who stated that - the regulations had heen published, but he-did not think' that t-liey would he enforced during the coming.export:se'ason. . . The board' had a - long- consultation with the Minister regarding the Gov.' ernmerit experimental farms, and several matters', of detail "n - ere fully; die-;' cu6sed.,\ It was finally decided that- the matter, be deferred - until, the. Minister had had an opportunity 'of makiiig a personal inspection'of these institutions. Other matters of a confidential nature were also discussed with the' Minister.