FARM-DAIRY INSTRUCTION SCHEME.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 July 1938, Page 6

FARM-DAIRY INSTRUCTION SCHEME.

35 ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTORS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night. 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 the 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 I have been advised that the applicants represented exceptionally line types of New Zealanders with a practical knowledge of dairy farming. The appointments will be made by the Public Service Commissioners.

“Altogether 77 officers will act as farm-dairy instructors, that total including the 35 new appointees. The full scheme of national farm-dairy instruction has been estimated to cost £47,000. Of this amount the industry, will contribute (50 per cent, while the Government will bear 40 per cent. The total expenditure is just about double 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 Zealand farmer further assistance in the efficient production of commodities of the highest quality. Our farmers have done exceptionally good work during recent years both as regards production and quality of products, but there can be no slackening of effort. The best standard must be the highest possible standard. In achieving and maintaining this objective the present Government will not be slow in playing its part. • “When I was in England last year for the Coronation and Imperial Conference I had the opportunity not only to look at our marketing system in Great Britain but to meet representatives of the vast importing trade in foodstuffs. The slogan of the markets was ‘Quality, quality and Still better quality.’ Our reply must be practical. We must deliver the goods. “My own impressions of overseas needs and standards were recently confirmed by the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. Lee Martin) who at the invitation of the Commonwealth Government attended the Australian Agricultural Council at Canberra and also visited farms in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and various agricultural colleges and research stations. Since returning from Australia Mr. Lee Martin, who himself is a practical farmer, has impressed upon the Government that the Australian farmers and administrative authorities are alert to the necessity for keeping abreast with scientific research and farm progress, and need I say that our Minister of Agriculture has backed up his experiences with requests for more Government assistance to 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 '1 ’ Farmers know and will appreciate where the money is going to. It is going only in the direction of promoting the highest level of production with firstclass quality. “Let me say in conclusion that although the Government Party comprises men with first-hand knowledge and experience of farming we do not claim to be a self-contained organisation, believing that we can run New Zealand farming as if it were a small world of our own. Our aim is to co-operate with the farmers and hand them every possible assistance in the national task of maintaining prosperity for the whole community. ’ ’