CROPS BELOW AVERAGE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 57, 12 March 1910, Page 6

CROPS BELOW AVERAGE.

HON. T. MACKENZIE'S OBSER-

VATIONS

THE MpCH-CRITICISED ESTI- -...,, . MATE.

Crops are not turning out equal to expectations, states the Hon. T. Mackenzie Minister for Agriculture), after a visit to Canterbury. Some farmers report the yield normal, but many find it less than usual. However, the country at present looks splendid. "I never saw it looking better." remarked the Minister. "Grass is in abundance, and the stock looks well."

The Agricultural Department's forecast of the cereal harvest was keenly criticised this season for being much over the actual figures, and the Minister was asked if the new, system had been found faulty. "No," he answered. "The forecast was taken when everything was promising. The droughts came, and caterpillars, and these are what reduced the yield, but had the season been propitious the results would have been above the estimates. To make up the forecast we sent to our departmental officers throughout New Zealand and utilised their resources to secure information from the farmers! and interviews with representative men. They also had the previous year's yield to go upon. My officers declare that they, are satisfied the estimate is more accurate than would have been the case under the old system, when subemtmerators were employed, and the cost was between £4000 and £5000 annually. Now the whole thing is done for £1000. "You must remember that it was the Farmers' Union which condemned the old system. We are endeavournig to find a substitute for it, and I might say that Australia is following the same lilies as ourselves. Of course, we are only too willing to get suggestions that will make for more accuracy."