SHEEP INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 160, 8 June 1939, Page 4

SHEEP INDUSTRY

VARYING PROBLEMS. ’ MEETING OF FARMERS. ” Mr H. M. Christie, chairman of the 3 Wool Publicity Ooniniitteo officially • opened the eighth annound conference = of sheep farmers at Massey AgriFcultural College yesterday, and in doling so made reference to the big part >1 science was playing in research. The • | worker in this department was supply--1 ing it wonderful service, hut he stresscd the need for co-operation from all sides of (lie sheep and wool industries. ■ Ho congratulated the staff of Massey ' College on the work they had done, and. in regard to the conference, he felt that those in attendance) would gain much benefit from the lectures. Mr W. M. Webster, M.E.C.V.S., of the college staff, commenced the practical part of the conference with a demonstration of how to administer a hypodermic injection for sleepy sickness. He impressed upon fanners how they could carry out this treatment themselves, and so ho the means of j saving their own ewes affected with tho malady. I Giving a comprehensive survey of the control of secondary growth on Ill'll country, Air E. Bruce Levy, director of the Grasslands Division of ! the Department of Scientific and In'dustrinl Research, said that he deplored the growing inferiority complex regarding hill country farming. Ho contended that such diminishing confidence was naitionallv fatal, and was emphatic that New Zealand hill coun--1 try was essentially sound, and alI though some of it had gone hack (temporarily ho held that the pro-I diming capabilities and potentialities of the country remained. Failures had to conic before success, and the great problem was to obviate initial failures, enabling original holders to remain on their farms.

Air Christie gave an interesting outline of tli o work of the New Zealand Wool Publicity Committee and dealt with tlie endeavours being made overseas to foster the wool industry as against the use of artificial substitutes. Instruction in the setting of ploughs and the principles of ploughing wore given by Air R. E. Bolgravo, Palmerston North, and Air A. W. Hudson, of the Massey College staff, dealt with some aspects on the problem of mole draining, in which he explained why such drains broke down. He also gave nr. explanation of how they could be made to function efficiently, and so mostly improve tho standard of draining where the mole system could he effectively applied. A paper by Professor R. G. At kite, of the University of North Wales, Bangor, was read by Professor G. 8. Perc'n. it dealt with lessons to he learnt from tho work of improving the Welsh mountain breed of sheep. An address by Dr. P. R. AlcAlahon, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 011 the weathering of the fleece in relation to wool manufacture, concluded the day's session.