THE AID OF SCIENCE.

Northern Advocate, 21 February 1911, Page 2

THE AID OF SCIENCE.

Agriculture was the great bulwark oi national life in this Dominion. The country had magnificent natural conditions, but the farmers, wisely, were not relying solely on them; they were putting into use those corollaries with out which they could not do—skill, science, and agriculture. If New Zealand's exports were to continue as

they were to-day, or were to increase it must be by those means. Science Ji2d enabled them to ascertain—and they had taken advantage of it—what was the most economic product for each part of the country, and science had helped them—and again they had taken advantage of it—as to the best way of putting their produce on the .London market.

There were going on at the same time the opening out world and the closing inworld. By the latter he referred to transport and communication. He was confident that only those countries could be successful in the close competition of the future which were best organised and educate:! in the science of agriculture. Considering its remoteness from the markets, New Zealand had done wonders, and he could only say: "Go on doing

your wonders!"

"Were I a magician," Lord Islington remarked, "I would induce to these shores a McDonald or a Carnegie, and get him to establish a great centre for agriculturists in this country for the young men of the next generation ti» equip themselves to compete in the commerce of the future. I cannot conceive a greater boom than that vhich McDonald has conferred on Canada, and which has been conferred on Africa —a scientific and practical centre for agriculturists."

THE POWER OF ORGANISATION

His Excellency spoke of the great

qualities of New Zealand's butter, and then drew attention to "the organisation which had helped to produce this. "Organisation is one of the necessities of modern times. We have seen countries which have been wayed down by depression, rising again, and if you look under the surface you will see organisation." Ireland was his best illustration, he said. Ireland has been a by-word in the past, but'" she v as rising now and taking her place in the world, and that was largely due to the work of Sir Horace Plunkiit in establishing co-operative dairy factories. They were doing the same thing in England. He spoke with considerable diffidence, but he did it to show the people he was desirous in any small manner he could to help them in their work; it was worth while the agriculturists of this countiy looking into the British system of co-operation. New Zealand had scattered over the country a number of isolated factories, all doing admirable work. It was a question whether they would not as time developed be brought to better use by being brought within the scope of one central organisation.

Organisation of that kind must never allow anything of the nature of political discussion to enter into their

business