THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 492, 10 February 1908, Page 3

THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

ARRIVAL OF MR McNAB AT FEILDING.

RECEPTION AND LUNCHEON. POINTS TO BE "PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION. MR McNAB RETURNS IN APRIL. The Hon. R. McNab, Minister of Lands, arrived at Feilding by the mail train at 12.15 to-day, on his oincial visit to inspect the district regarding its suitability as a site for the Experimental Dairy School. The Minister was met at the station by Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, M.P., Mr J. W. B. Trewin (Mayor of Feilding), Mr A. H. Atkinson (President of the Chamber of Commerce), Mr E. H. Crabb (Chairman of the Kimbolton Branch of the Farmers' Union), Mr Fred. Pirani (Chairman of the Wanganui Education Board), Mr E. Short (vice-president of the Manawatu A. and P. Association), Mr E. Goodbehere (Chairman of the Feilding Technical School Committee), Mr J. Knight (representing the Feilding A. and P. Association), Mr G. C. "Wheeler (Chairman Oroua County Council), W. T, Bowater and E. J. Wackrell. Mr Lethbridge received the Minißter and introduced the members of the deputation. Mr Pirani apologised to the Minister for the absence of Messrs J. G. Cobbe and S. J. Carman, who were attending a meeting at Palmerston. Mr Lethbridge drew the Minister's attention to the gardens adjoining the railway station, and Mr McNab expressed his admiration at the excellent show they made. j The Minister and party then paid a visit to the Technical School and was shown over the building by the Chairman of the Education Board. Mr McNab had the use of the different rooms explained to him. The Feilding Brass Band played musical selections on the rotunda during the luncheon hour. After lunch at Haste's Hotel, the party — Messrs McNab, Lethbridge, Pirani, Trewin, Knight, Crabb, Atkinson, Short, Wheeler, and tho Minister's secretary — left by motor cars for Cheltenham Dairy Factory, where the Minister wlli be interviewed by a deputation desirous of tho Government acquiring Mr B. J. Riddiford's property there for closer settlement. The party then proceeds to Waituna, and, after being entertained at afternoon tea by Mrs E. Short, will go on to Air F. x. Lethbridge's property at Makino, where the proposed site lor the dairy 6cliool will bo inspected. There, also, the views of the deputation will be laid beforo tho Minister. Afterwards, Mr E. Short will take the Minister to Wanganui in his motorcar. The Hon. Mr McNab intimated this afternoon that it was his intention to return to Feilding in April and visit the country districts which lie was unable to visit to-day. THE DESIRE OF THE DISTRICT. The following are the main points to be brought under the Minister's attention T>y the deputation regarding the Dairy School: — The deputation believe that Feuding is eminently fitted for the establishment of a Dairy School for many reasons:— (l.) It is the natural centre of one of the finest dairying districts in the dominion, having a radius of thirty miles, including the counties of Oroua, Manawatu, Kiwitea, Kairanga, and Pohangina, in every one of which there are dairy factories and creameries already established, with a promise of very many more. A trip through the district would show the Minister that the land is eminently fitted for dairying, and the dissemination of instruction in the most up-to-date methods must contribute considerably to the advancement of the industry. It iB recognised that another advantage possessed by Feilding is a building specially erected for a technical school, which is to be fitted up with special regard to scientific instruction, and in which those who desire instruction in scientific dairying will also be able to obtain useful technical .education in "other directions which will be of immense service to them in after life. In connection with the Technical School, the use of several sections of land belonging to the Railway Department, and at present unoccupied, could probably be arranged for, which would give accommodation required for the dairy school. Tho Wanganui Education Board has been successfully conducting dairying instruction classes throughout the district of late, and the_ result has proved that there is considerable demand, both from adults and young folk, for scientific education in dairying, and that there is evidence that the dissemination of this knowledge will do a great deal to counteract the "rush for the towns" so detrimental to agricultural districts. It is hardly necessary to the dairy factories and creameries already established in this) district, as the Minister must W Aware, through his Department, If- the number and wide range of cquntry they cover ; yet a few details, may be of interest. There are dairy factories belonging to the Awahuri, Kairanga, Cheltenham, Bunnythorpe, Apiti, Rewa, Rongotea, and Glen Oroua Companies, Nathan and Co., and J. Gillies,- to which creameries are attached at- Waituna, Pukihikura, Sandon Block, Halcombe, Cinder Hill, Kimbolton road, Aorangi, Colyton, Roberts' Lino, Pohangina, Raumai, Ashhurst, Stoney Creek, Taikorea, Kairanga, Beaconsfield, Kimbolton, Nikau, Colyton, Hiwinui, Ohakea, Freklington Line, Himatangi, Makowhai, Taikorea, etc., all of which are within easy distance of Feilding. It is difficult to get, at tho exact output of butter and' cheese from these factories, but, approximately, it may bo put down at 2000 tons in the season, which would mean the output of some 22,000 cows, of a capital value of fully £125,000. The number of employees utilised to get this produce to market must be very large, and their interests alone are well worth considering. There is no intention on the part of the deputation to set Feilding against any other place, but we feel sure that the Minister must feel that the arguments in favour of a dairy school are very weighty, and that fie will carefully consider them before coming to a final decision on the whole question. A word is necessary about the very generous offer made by Mr Lethbridge, M.P. The deputation have always recognised the very deep interest taken by him in the welfare of the district and the personal sacrifices he has made for a number of public objects, and they are deeply grateful for his spontaneous offer of fifty acres of land for the establishment of the school. It is considered that, with the use of a portion of the new Technical School building in Feilding, the Minister will be able to make a start with the proposed school at hardly any cost to the j State, that the material for instruction in the Snape of cows and pupils is easily available, and that every effort will be made by the community to assist in the successful inauguration of what promises to be a splendid movement for the advancement of the dairying industry.