SERVICES RECOGNISED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 July 1925, Page 10

SERVICES RECOGNISED.

TRIBUTE TO MR. .1. W. DEF.M. At a F'armer.s’ Union smoke concert at Westme.e on Friday nigt.t a nigh | tribute was paid to Air. J. AV. Deem ■by Mr. W. Aiorrison, w.. 0 .ea the toast of ‘The Field Division si. the Department of Agriculture.” in Mr. Deem, he said, they had a practical* man, who was <if very great assistance to the farme.s in lire oistii..t. 'the speaker said t*.e opinion that the valid on this coast did not reqid.e' top-diessing as extensively as other parts of .New Zealand had been exploded by leason or the instruction and practical demonstrations provided by Air. Deem and other members of the Department. They found that where top-dressing was practised they received infinitely better results. His personal, conviction that tne land did not require a good deal of top-dressing had gone by the board, and he found that it was essential to top-diesg e>en in this district that possessed good qual.ty land. Mr. Deem and other oili. eers of the Department had p.oced con_ c.nsively that it was necessary to topdress tontini.ously. "When the matter was viewed .ogica.ly. it behoved farmers—particularly the dairymen who took so much from their land —to put hack some of their returns on to the land. “Air. Deem has been largely responsible jor the increase in production on this coast, and if it had not been .or him we would not have taken on too-diessing so extensively on this coast,” he added. Air. Derm deserved geat credit for his efforts to stimulate the interest of tire farmers in matters calculated to increase production and improve the value of their farms generally. Tire produce exported from ths Dominion to the Home market wa® valued at £53,000,000 a year, but if they cou d obtain even 25 per cent, more produce from their land by intensive cultivation and close attention to pastures —as Ire believed they could —it meant a big thing for tie farming community. It meant, perhaps, the snv ing of the situation. So when they had men lik 0 Af". Deem in their midst t! ev were on safe ground in accepting their advice, lomarked Air. Aiorrison in conclusion. AIT Deem acknowledged the toast and in doimr so referred to the value of top-dressing.