DAIRY FARM INDUSTRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1938, Page 3

DAIRY FARM INDUSTRY

3IIt SAVAGE'S STATEMENT. (feb press association.] AUCKLAND. July 3. Particulars of the Government's national scheme of farm-dairy instruction. involving the appointment of 35 additional instructors, were given by the Prime Minister, after his arrival in Auckland at the week-end. to amplify a brief reference to a matter in the Governor-General's speech at the opening of Parliament. “There is a substantial reason for anticipating great success with the scheme." said Mr. Savage. "The appointment. of'an additional 35 FarmDairy Instructors will be announced shortly. There is no dearth of competent men available for the job. Indeed, no fewer than 400 applications were received for the new positions, and 1 have been advised that the ap plicants represented exceptionally line tvpes of New Zealanders, with pract i cal knowledge of dairy farming. Th' , appointments will be made by the Pub ■I lie Service Commissioners. AltogethI er, seventy-seven officers will act a: Farm-Dairy Instructors, that total in eluding the 35 new appointees. T.h< _ full scheme of national farm-dairy in

jstruction has been estimated to cost • £47,000. Of this amount, the industry I will contribute 60 per cent., while the .Government will bear 40 per cent, 'rhe I total expenditure is just’ about double I the present cost of farm-dairy instruction. “It is not necessary to defend the increased expenditure. With the keen

development Of overseas competition, it is essential to give the New Zea-> land farmer further assistance in the efficient production of commodities of] the highest quality. Our farmers have done exceptionally good work during < 1 .5 recent years, both as regards produc-; hf.tion and the quality of the products, l 11 but there can be no slackening of eflfort. The best standard must be the: highest possible standard. In achieving and maintaining this objective, the present Government wiJl not be slow in 1 playing its part. J “When I was in England last year - for the Coronation and the Imperial 2 Conference. I had the opportunity not onlv to look at our marketing system r in Great Britain, but to meet the repr resentatives of the vast imjtorting tyade in foodstuffs. The slogan of the markets was “Quality! Quality! And Still Better Quality!” Our reply must be

r pracl icul. We must deliver the goods.; “My own impression, of the overseas needs and stumlards were recently confirmed by the Minister o.f Agriculture (Mr. Lee Martini, who. at th'' invitation of the Commonwealth Government. attended t lit' Australian Agricultural Council, at Canberra, and also visited farms in New South Wales. Vicloria and South Australia, and various agricultural colleges and research 'stations. Since returning from AusItralia. Mr. Lee Martin, who himself is a practical farmer, has impressed upon the Government the fact that the Australian farmers and administrative authorities are alert to the necessity for Keeping abreast with scientific research ami farm progress; and need J say that our Minister of Agriculture has backed up his experience with requests for more Government assistance to the farmers, and has succeeded in obtaining substantial grants for carrying out a progressive policy. Indeed, when the sum total has been shown in the Public Accounts, there doubtless will be the usual cry from ' some of the Government, s opponents. ‘ "Where, is all the money coming : from’.’” Farmers know, and will ap- ■ predate where the money is going to • It is going only in the direction ol 5 promoting the highest level 01. pro

■ duction, with first-class quality. r. “Let me say in conclusion ilia), al- ■ though the Government Party coml prises men with first-hand knowledge, >' and experience of farming, we do not claim to be a self-contained organisau tion, believing that we can run New e Zealand farming as if it were a small :- world of our own. Our aim is to cooperate with the farmers, and to lend e them every possible assistance in the; o national' task of maintaining prosi, perity for the whole community.'’