AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1907, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.

FARMERS IN CONFERENCE. TO-DAY'S SITTING. The third day's sitting of the AgriCultural ' Conference began at 10 o'clock this morning in the Chamber of Commerce, under the chairmanship of Mr. J. G. Wilson. EDUCATING THE YOUNG PEOPLE. Mr. George moved — "That in the opinion of this conference, the interests of agriculture in New Zealand would be greatly promoted by the establishment of a Technical School in a convenient centre, making agricultural subjects a prominent feature of its curriculuSn, so as to offer a practical course of study designed to prepare boys and girls for SHecessf ul country life ; v which school would also serve as .a stepping-stone from the public school to the Agricultural College, and as an object lesson of the teaching that could bz given in the ordinary district High School." Mr. Jackson rehearsed the part the schools of the Feilding district had i played in developing technical ednca- ' tion for country children. I After a short discussion, the motion was adopted. EARMARKS. The Earmarks Committee reported — " (a) That the brand consists of an earmark and wool brand ; (b) that, in addition, for the purpose of identification, an owner may register a tattoo, fire brand, or label ; (c) that the owner's registered earmark be for wethers on the off ear, and ewes on the near ear, that it is neither to bo altered nor added to as long as the sheep lives, and that the opposite ear in each case be the owner's ear, on which he may put such mark as he wishes ; (d) that all tools for branding and ear-marking be supplied or approved of by the Government, be stamped with a Government mark, and that it be a breach of the law to use branding tools other than those supplied or approved of by the Government." Mr. D. D. Macfarlane moved tjhe adoption of the report, with a recommendation to the Agricultural Department that a Bill be drafted incorporating the points in the report, the Bill to be distributed amongst societies. The report was adopted. TO IMPROVE EXPORTS. The following recommendations of tho Export of btud Stock Committee j were adopted :—"(1): — "(1) That it is very desirable that inferior rams should be prevented from ■ being sold to the publio for -breeding purposes ; and consider' that the only way to ensure this would be by having all rams intended for sale culled by an independent person ; '(2) that to carry out the work of such inspection and culling, competent men for the different breeds would have to be appointed in the various districts, and in its opinion the difficulties and expense of such work would at the present time bo too great ; (3) that as regards preventing inferior sheep boing exported Chat the Department of Agriculture be empowered to have all j sheep for exportation inspected by some competent man ; and that no sheep be exported unless passed by such inspector as good and sound sheep, representative of their breed. • The department to charge such fee as it considered necessary ; (4) that, after inspection and approval, a certificate be granted to the exporter by the department ; (5) that the inspector -to be appointed be recommended to the department by the FJock Bood Association; (6) that tho Flock Book Association should take steps to ensure better inspection and culling of the flocks under their charge." Speakers agreed that Government certificates would prove valuable to breeders who sent stock to • Australia tir S,oiith America.. Instanccb •ahic given of the value ot a name at the Sydney sales. MORE ON EDUCATION. Another debate upon the subject of rural education took place, following upon a remit from Southland, proposed by Mr. Cuthbertson : — "That the imperative necessity for providing facilities 16r scientific instruction in connection with agricultural pursuits be again urged upon the attention of the Government, and that it be respectfully requested t6 formulate a schemo, founded on the matured ■ experience of other countries, especially Canada and Denmark, which are amongst our most formidable competitors in' the Home markets, such scheme to be submitted to the various associations for their consideration and suggestions."- The mover's arguments wero mainly along the lines traversed by speakern at last night's debate. • - Mr. Studholme (Canterbury) thought the Government should be thanked for the efforts it was putting forth in developing technical education, and on his motion* the following addition was made to the /notion : — "And that this conference- thanks the Government for the assistance it has given by legislation and otherwise to the improvement .of rural education, and that it welcomes the assurance given at this conference by both the Minister of Education and the Minister of Agriculture that they 'will continue to do all in their power to further ,this movement." Ths motion was adopted. (Left sitting.)

An ambiguity in a paragraph published yesterday, concerning - a case . .brought againstr Laery and Cp.,.to recover moneys on account of potatoes 8013 by the firm, and alleged by the purchaser to have proved.' to. be unfit for food,, made' it appeaT that, the potatoes sold by the firm were condemned by tbs Health Department. Some potatoes certainly' were condemned by the department, but it was not shown that these were those pur- [ chased from Laery and Co. Wellington Stock Exchange quotations for to-day are- as follows: — 'Talisman Consolidated (ex-dividend), buyers £2 7s, selkrs £2 8s 3d; Waihi Gold Mining Co., sellers £8 12s 6d ; Leyland and O'Brien Timber Co., sellers £2 'ss, sales £2 6s. ' ' ' ' ' While Australia ,is getting settlers through one door she is losing a few through another, and New Zealand is capturing the emigrants. The Commonwealth is spending money to attract a good class of settler to the Federal shores, and the continent's enterprise 'is benefiting this colony. Since the 31st 'March, writes .the Tourist; and Jndus'tties Department's . representative at Sydney, he has sent thirty-one adults and six children to this country, with a total capital of £7930. Two families of British Columbians, dairy farmers, with , £1000 . in , their pockets, nave also been despatched across the Tasman Sea. A small mob of draught horses (twentyfive' in numbax) arrived from the South by tho Mokoia this morning, and attracted considerable attention. The animals, which wero bred on Messrs. Ross and Glendining's Tuns in' Central Otago, 'nro in splendid condition, and are considered to be equal to any lot ever brought to Wellington. They ju-e to be offered at auction by Messrs. Dal,gety and Co. next Saturday. "A Dip in tho Dorio" will bo the subject of a freo locturo to bo dolivored by Mr. Robert Hogg on Monday evening, under tho auspices of the Wellington City Council. A meeting of Australian* will be held oh Friday to coniidor tho question of forming: an tthUtic, literary, and nooiui club