The Sead Farm.

Evening Star, Issue 17927, 24 March 1922, Page 4

The Sead Farm.

Tiif, future of the Moa. Seed Farm is still (innAul'nin A] 1 I’ll S'*

uncertain, ihc latest ministerial statement on the matter loaves just a faint

glimmer of hope that the assistance of a, paternal Government may nob be withdrawn from a project which, promises to bo of inestimable benefit to Otago and the whole of tho Dominion, and which has rapidly readied tho point of being self-supporting. 'While the Department of Agriculture is trying to make up its mind on the abandonment or otherwise of the project, alternatives for its carrying on in tho latter event art) taking definite shape. Already a private syndicate has sought from the Government a five years’ lease, renewable under certain conditions; but coupled with this offer, possibly essential to it, is a request for a Government subsidy of £3OO a year. Although this latter sum would bo spent entirely on experiments, the principle of the subsidising of a commercial venture with State money is open to objection, especially when one of the arguments for the continuation of the Moa Farm on its original basis is that it lias become selfsupporting. Another proposition has been put forward- by the Otago Expansion League which discloses a public spirit highly to be commended. So convinced arc some members of tho league, not only of tho necessity of ‘the retention of the Moa Seed Farm in the public interest but of its soundness as a commercial proposition, that they are willing to form a'committee from among themselves to administer the farm in place of the Repatriation Board, themselves becoming liable in tho event of loss; while, should results show a profit, this would bo applied- to the extension of operations. It may be that the competition for the right to carry on tho seed farm may convince the Government that the form of retrenchment proposed in respect to it would be no retrenchment at all, but rather tho allowing of a valuable asset to slip through tho State’s fingers. If, on tho contrary, Mr Nosworthy adheres to his first unwelcome declaration, then it seems to us that tho offer being made on behalf of the Expansion League should receive preference.