"FARM LIFE"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1912, Page 3

"FARM LIFE"

PRIME MINISTER'S LECTURE "Farm Life in New Zealand" was tho subject of a, highly interesting address delivered by the Prime Minister (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) at tho Town Hall labt night in aid of the funds of the Wellington Boys' Institute. Mr. John Duthie presided over an audience numbering about 1500. The Chairman briefly explained the objects of the lecture and those of the Boys' Institute. The cornets of streets, he said, were not good training grounds for boys, and the institute was formed to meet this difficulty. The Premier had shown his warm sympathy with the institute in agreeing to give the lecture. (Applause.) It had to be remembered that Mr. Mackenzie was a. very busy man. For many yeoxs the lecturer bxd studied the question, and he had great pleasure in introducing him. People in the city, said Mr. Mackenzie, were not always brought into oloee contact with farm problems, but they all realised their importance to the city dwellers. Thousands of years ago agriculture was developed in China and Egypt; in Rome's most successful days agriculture flourished and land was out up in reasonable area*. Where agriculture was not prosperous, the nations were on tho verge of decay. There were' considerable tracts of native and Crown lands that ought to be brought into cultivation. There were swamps requiring drainage, great areas of gum country which could bo made useful, especially for fruit growing. In a reference to the bush Sickness in the North Island, the Minister said that Mr. Reakee, chief veterinarian, had the matter in hand, and be had a proposal by which it was .hoped much good would be done. The Agricultural Department was endeavouring not to pamper the people, but to teach them to get the most out of the soil. If agriculture was a success, every industry in Now Zealand would feel the benefit, and prosperity must result. The speaker referred to tho re-aggregation of estates. To view it properly one must judge by history. Too often there was seqn huge wealth on one Bide and extreme poverty on the other. The curee of aggregation was one of the greatest a country could be inflicted with, and it must be closely guarded- against in this country. (Applause.) The Minister referred to the sparsenees S population in Australia and New Zeand, and said tho apart) places must be filled with people or they must rest assured that for no long period would thoso great areas be left unpeopled, owing to the Asiatio menace. (Applause.) The cinematograph pictures were of exceptional interest. Tho views illustrated a New Zealand ploughing match, cultivating the soil, afforestation, discing, sowing, the golden harvest, epraying frut trees, bee-keeping, sheep-station life, th» Dominion's great sources of water power, curling at Naseby, Mount Cook, and Maori studies. The water power illustra- ] tions were simply superb. The Minister was listened to with the closest attention from start to finish, and was accorded, on the motion of the Hon. Dr. Collins, a very cordial vote of thanks with loud cheers. Mr. Duthie was also thanked for presiding. Mr. Courtenay V. Mohr, late of the Melbourne Liedertafel, the possessor of & splendid baritone voice, sang a couple of items during tho envening, and Mr. Frank S. Arnsden was at the piano.