FARM RESEARCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 130, 4 June 1938, Page 11

FARM RESEARCH

REPLY TO A CRITIC

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE

"I was very surprised to read the remarks attributed to Mr. Warren, of Darfleld, a member of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, speaking at a district conference yesterday in reference to farm research and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research," said Dr. E. Marsden, Secretary of the Department of Industrial' Research. "I take it that Mr: Warren's reference to farm research does not include the whole activities of the Department.

"The Dr. Hammond referred to in the resolution under discussion visited New Zealand at the invitation of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to advise on animal production and particularly on nutritional aspects of animal disease. A copy of his report was. forwarded confidentially to the secretary and president of the Farmers' Union,. a fortnight ago, with the information that it would be published in- the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Science and Technology, which is expected to be issued next week.

"Dr. Hucker was a private visitor to New Zealand and, apart from the benefit of discussions with him, so far as I know no report on organisation has been received from him.

"As an example of the value of the Department's work in farm research, may I remind Mr. Warren that the solving of one of the outstanding stock disease problems of the Dominion, namely, cobalt deficiency, was carried out by a team of workers sponsored by the Department of Scientific and In-, dustrial Research, and recently the Wool Publicity Committee, of which Mr. Warren is a member, granted the sum of £500 for the furtherance of this work and the wider application of the results.

"With regard to co-ordination of research, it can truly be said that there is far more Co-operation amongst the Department's institutions and workers carrying out research in New Zealand than in.any other country, or at any time previously in New Zealand, and the arrangements are such that full and efficient team work is brought to bear on national objectives.

"Following a request from the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the Department agreed to an advisory committee of farmers to act in association with the Department's activities in Canterbury. particularly the diseases and j breeding of field crops by the Agronomy Division, Lincoln College. Again, this Department has offered the Canterbury Progress League to inaugurate, in conjunction with and based on work at Lincoln College, a comprehensive soil and crop survey of the whole district as a ground work for animal disease surveys, particularly those of a nutritional origin. "With regard to the reported re-marks-of another speaker that it might be advisable to send* a man to Denmark to study methods of controlling losses in, stbck, It should be rioted that. In addition to _ obtaining Dr. Hammond's report .the. Government has sent overseas Dr., Hbpkirk, the head of the Wallacevillel.Laboratory, for that precise purpose. ".I shall be gla<jl -at any time, to answer the questions raised by ..Sir. Warren before either the central exe-. cutive of the Farmers' Union or any district conference."

REPORT TO BE RELEASED Commenting on the statement regarding farm research made at Christchurch by Mr. G. C. Warren, a member of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the Dominion secretary of the Farmers' Union (Mr. A. P. O'Shea) said this morning that in fairness to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research he would like to. make it clear that a copy of Dr. Hammond's report had been made available to him and he understood that it was to be published in the near future. So far Dr. Hucker's report had not been received.