COUNTRY’S PROGRESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 168, 19 June 1925, Page 5

COUNTRY’S PROGRESS

government and the farmer. ADDRESS BY HON. W. NOSWORTHY. One of the most interesting and educative features of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association’s smoke concert last night was the reply of the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy) to the toast of “the Department of Agriculture.” It consisted in the main of an outline of the activities of the Government in general and the department in particular in the interests of the primary producer of tho Dominion. PROPOSER’S REMARKS. In proposing the toast, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., said that all realised that agricultural and pastoral shows could not be a success were it njot for the co-operation of the department and of its officers who disseminated so much valuable information to the farmer. Mr Nash made eulogistic reference to the Hon. Mr Nosworthy and Dr. Reakes, Director of Agriculture. “It i-' a pleasure to see the representatives of twfo great American republics here this evening,” said the Minister, on rising to reply. Speaking in jocular vein, ho said that he could not announce for tho benefit of those gentlemen that the embargo or the importation of cattle from the countries which they represented had bs->n lifted. It had not been, and the gentleman referred to fully realised what a disaster to tho Dominion it would bo if grave cattle diseases were introduced from overseas countries whero they were rampant. “ADVANCING STEADILY.”

Tho farming industry of tho Dominion, said the Minister, was advancing steadily and Inst year the exports had included £19,000,000 worth ‘ of butter and cheese, £-7,000,000 worth of wool, and £12,000,000 worth of mutton and lamb. It seemed to show that the Dominion was making progress and “holding it 3 own” against the competition of tho great farming lands of the world. Tho Government was, he wished to state, intent on assisting the country in every possible way. Mr Nash had said tlqjt the speaker had a “heavy row to hoe,” and that was perfectly true. When, sa’d-Mr Nosworthy, he took over the portfolio, tho country was nearing the end of the commandeer and was on the edge of the slump which prostrated New Zealand in 1921. At that time he had felt it incumbent on himself to take all possible measures to assist in the retrenchment scheme then in progress, although he knew as well as everyone, and better than most, that it was not in the immediate interests of the producers; but, he asked, what was there to do when they did mot have the money ? WITHSTANDING COMPETITION.

In placing the primary producer in a position to withstand tho competition from such countries as the Argentine and Siberia, they had been successful in becoming equipped with a fair organisation. He sincerely hoped that the producers v.lould appreciate und hold the gains made, turning their advantage to the best possible account.

Speaking more particularly of the development of the dairying industry, the Minister stated that it gave him pleasure to remind the gathering that it had been decided to establish at Wallaceville a wellequipped laboratory for dairy farming research work, tho estimated cost being from £9OOO to £IO,OOO.

“It is not before it is wanted and is long overdue,” lie commented. Continuing, Mr Nosworthy mentioned that he lmd been able to make a grant to the Taranaki Dairy Farmers’ Federation to meet the eost of the employment of a skilled man tlo conduct scientific investigation in a laboratory which that body was establishing. Recently there had been launched a campaign of testing for moisture content in butter and last year 151,266 churnings had been tested, with the result that there bad been an absence of complaints since about excessive moisture in butter. He deprecated the small proportion of dairy cows tested and stated that in tho interests of the industry the department was encouraging testing of the herds. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. A comprehensive scheme to promote agricultural education had been framed and referred to the Board of Agriculture from which he expected a report shortly. It was estimated that it would cost £40,000 annually lor this plan (of education in agriculture in New Zealand, but it was a move in the light direction. “I know that it is long overdue, but if we have patience we will get all that we deserve, lie observed. Proceeding, the Minister said that many tilings which he had had under review for a number of years bad now become accompli shed facts, and so they progressed gradually. DETERIORATION OF LANDS, The deterioration of pastures was the subject next touched upon. Dealing with it, the Minister said that, particularly in parts of Taranaki and in the inland districts of this island, tho deterioration of grass lands was becoming a question of paramount importance. The department was investigating the matter and seeking to find wliat could be done to bring buck those lands to something like their former productive capacity, and to put them in a condition to yield a better return to swell the production of the Dominion. After the lapse of another year, continued Mr Nosworthy, lie trusted that there would be enough wheut grown in the Dominion to supply the requirements of this country—not in the matter of wheat alone —but also in by-products such as bran and pollard, ample local supplies of which meant so much to tho poultryman and some branches of the farming industry. The speaker said he was definitely opposed to sending out of the country money for such essentials as could be produced within it. Wheat growing meant the employment of a great deal of labour and from that point alone the industry should be developed. FARMERS’ MORTGAGES. The Minister’s uddress took an interesting turn when be directed bis attention to farmers’ mortgages. Introducing the subject, lie said he was hopeful that the day was not far distant when the principle on which mortgages would be scsecurcd by farmers would be the “table” system. That, lie explained, was the system whereby the farmer half-yearly paid interest and sinking fund, gradually extinguishing his indebtedness. That would be one of the greatest things ever achieved in the interests of tho Dominion producer. It might be necessary to work slowly, but the objective was in view and he personally hoped to seo the day when the bulk of tho money lent on rural lands would be lent on the table system. LESSON OF THE SLUMP.

“I have been watching what has been going on in this Dominion during the past few years very closely—more closely than some people think,” stated Mr Nosworthy, who proceeded tlo allude to the great lesson of the slump in 1920-21, when tho country was blocked with imports from overseas and at the same time lost its markets abroad. New Zealand had overimported and under-imported, said the Alinister, who stressed the fact that even in recent months imports had been very heavy. He desired to state in all seriousness that it was essential for the welfare nnd sound financial status of tho Dominion that the annual value of exports should exceed that of imports by £5,000,000 or £6,000,000. For the country to have the values nearly balance was a position indicative of ill for a Dominion which depended and would continue to do so for many years to come on its primary produce. WORK OF THE DEPARTAIENT. Nearing the conclusion of his address, Air Nosworthy alluded to tho good standing of the Department of Agriculture in New Zealand as compared with those of such great countries as England, tho United States and Canada. When he returned from a trip abroad, he said, he marvelled at what was done hore 12,000 miles from tho Horne market. A testimony to the value of the achievements of the department in New Zealand, he point-

cd out, was afforded by the Dominion’s export of butter, cheese, mutton and iamb. When lie was free from political life —and he would be some day—he Could always look back with pleasure on the work achieved by the department and the service and co-operation of its officers, during the period of his association with that branch of the Government service. ADDRESS BY DR. REAKES.

In also speaking in reply, Dr. Reakes expressed his pleasure at liuving the administrative head of a department so efficiently staffed with men desirous to do their best to aid the producers. The advance of the dairying industry had, he said, been most pronounced and the work of Mr Singleton and his taff had been an important factor in that connection. (Applause.) The inspection work of the department had been gradually developing into instructional work, and lie trusted that it would continue along those lines. It was, bo assured his hearers, valuable and well worth the expenditure. He proceeded to stress the value of top-dressing dairy farms as a moans tlo increased production. The department had been grappling with the question of diseases among dairy cows and scientific veterinarians were busily engaged in seeking improved methods of prevention and cure. (Applause.) “In this regard wo aim very high, and having the benefit of the knowledge of other countries, are endeavouring to gtt one better,” said Dr. Reakes. Cleanliness about the yards and in tho milking machines was, he observed, one of the main factors of disease prevention. In conclusion ho remarked that it was ever the endeavour of himself and staff to further the interests of the producers.