LORD ISLINGTON'S SPEECH

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1912, Page 4

LORD ISLINGTON'S SPEECH

FIGURES SHOWING STEADY PROGRESS. [BT TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE FQST.J" PALMERSTON N., This Day. His Excellency the Governor in opening the National Dairy Show, was accompanied by General Godley and Major Dunk (president of the association). Ho gave figures showing the steady progress of the exhibition, the object of which, was the encouragement of dairy farmers. Lord Islington expressed pleasure at opening tho show, and congratulated the committee on the high quality of the exhibits, which showed that the dairy industry -was pressing foxward, and upwards. The whole* show demonstrated the vaJue of science and machinery in economising labour and perfecting methods. He was deeply impressed by the Department of Agriculture's splendid exhibit*. Other countries might well take a leaf out of New Zealand's book, showing how the State might further an industry. The main, object of show, was to "offer information and instruction to all interested. He referred to the importance of a series of lectures being given to farmers by experts; scientific methods in the industry of agriculture would be a more imperative feature as competition grew keener throughout the world. A country like New Zealand ehould have agriculture as one of the chief branches of education. Scientific treatment of the subject might be given to a pupil during his work in a primary school. Theoretical teaching in agriculture was of little use without practice. It was an excellent thing alt>p to advance the teaching of agriculture through the Curriculum of secondary schools, as was done at Palmereton North. Not many years would roll by, he hoped, before New Zealand would possess a wellequipped, scientifically-conducted, cen-trally-situated agricultural college, by which the coping etone might be added to the structure of agricultural educaton. He must emphasise again the necessity of maintaining and improving the high quality of New Zealand products as the only way of keeping ahead in the overseas markets. The application of the science of agriculture should be expanded, extended, and organised in every possible way. A further impetus to milk production had been given by the succes-s of last season. His Excellency gave figures of the giowth of the industry. Tho maintenance of quality was largely due li> the assistance of tfie instructors of the Dairy Depuitmeiit. He was pleased to tee the spread of cow-tebting amoug dairy farmers. No fewer than. 14,060 cows -wore jtestedjlaj!; yojtr-fc/MtA-xnftttor^fuct, .jho-

production standard of herds for milk production had appreciably improved. FRUIT GROWING. In reference to fruit growing, His Excellency said that during last year 2000 acree had been planted in commercial orchards, making the total now for the Dominion 734,000 acres. There was still ample room for substantial improvement in the grading and packing of fruit for export. This wa6 a defect that could easily be remedied. New Zealand could 1 not afford to hay© any more failures, or even partial failures, in the overseas markets. Let them see to it that the fruit was packed, graded, and packed at proper times, and in proper manner. New Zealand could grow the best apples in the world, and for these there was an ample market. It would certainly be to the advantage of farmers to study the increase and extension of their markets. Canada was fast becoming an extensive trading country with New Zealand. Imports from Canada and exports to Canada had increased very largely in the last four years. The butter landed in Vancouver wa« sold not. in British Columbia, hut was carried 3000 miles further east, to Ottawa, where it was sold for Is 7d a pound, as compared with Is 8d for the local article. Canada was becoming more and more dependent on the outeide supply for butter, and New Zealand was the natural source of supply. The trade was well worth cultivating by the farmers of . New Zealand. Personally, he was as keen as any agriculturist to see the industry advance. He hoped they would apply science, foresight, and vigour to the rich endowments with which God had blessed the country, and New Zealand would • never fail to maintain, her position in the forefront of the world's producers. (Applause). Hi 6 Excellency then declared the show open.