NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1934. GOLD IN GRASSLAND

Northern Advocate, 12 October 1934, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1934.

GOLD IN GRASSLAND

) Registered for transmission through 5 the post as a Newspaper. i

The fact that over 90 per cent, of the total, exports from the Dominion consists of grassland products indicates the value of I an address which Lord Bledisloe ’ gave in Palmerston North, when . he spoke of the importance of . good pastures to the economic . structure of New Zealand. Lord Bledisloe, as one of the foremost agriculturists in the Empire, is ’ eminently qualified to advise the • farming industry in this coim- ’ try, and, in the matter of grass- ’ land management, as well as agricultural and pastoral pursuits in general, he has rendered service which has placed farmers under a debt of gratitude to him. • His speech at Palmerston North s showed the virtual dependence of the export industries of the | country upon the maintenance of . its pasture lands at their most r productive level. It .is an interesting coincidence that, following upon the Governor-General >s • speech there should have com;e • to hand a report oh, “Grassland ’ Seeds” issued by the Imperial ; Economic Committee which was appointed by; resolution of the Empire Governments at the Imperial Conference held, in 1930, This report shows that the total value of imports into the United Kingdom in 1932 amounted to 702 millions sterling, and that of these imports, grassland products, principally * beef, mutton, milk, cheese, wool, hides and skins, accounted for 147 millions sterling, or £2o.lß'out of every £IOO expended on imported merchandise. So far as New Zealand primary products are concerned —and they represent, to all intents and purposes, the basic potential income of the Dominion for any one year —only pig and poultry products are excluded from what the Imperial Economic Committee describes as “transmuted grass.” The committee expresses pleasure at being able to report much success in New Zealand in the improvement of grasses and clovers. This is due to the research work done at Palmerston North, which is complementary to the work in connection with Empire grassland seeds which is being carried out at Aberystwyth. It is rather surprising, as Lord Bledisloe has said, and as is emphasised in the Imperial Economic Committee’s report, I that the close study of grassland seeds and the production of pedigree strains should be a comparatively recent development in agricultural science, but it is indeed gratifying to learn how its importance has been realised and how thoroughly the realisation is being put into effect within the British Commonwealth. The Imperial Economic Committee deals, of course, with activities in all parts of the. Empire, but the experience of New Zealand is referred to frequently in the course of the comprehensive report. It would seem that in no country is agricultural science more alive ' to the need for improved and i suitable pasture. Certification of I seeds, which has been strictly en- 1 forced in New Zealand 'during ] recent years, is made a subject of j special comment. It is remark- 1 ed, for instance, that the alien- * lion which has been given to the l development of perennial rye in c Hawke’s Bay has resulted in the t area of an evolved strain, super- * ior to the ordinary commercial seed, being increased from about r

2000 acres about six years ago to 20,000 acres in 1932-33. In Akaroa, again, cocksfoot and other fine strains in grass and clover have been subjected to certification with good effect. According to the report, ecological surveys have progressed further in New

Zealand than in any other country covered by the committee, though it is admitted that much remains to be done in this respect. The report is not so enthusiastic as the Governor-Gen-eral in regard to the development of an export trade in seeds. It emphasises that locally-grown seed is generally superior to imported, and the improvement of local strains is the first object to be attained. The possibility of an exchange between two countries enjoying similar climate is admitted to be practicable, and the committee mentions New Zealand white clover as being suitable for short leys in England. It is gratifying to hear such good reports of New Zealand grassland management, but, as Lord Bledisloe has emphasised, there must be no relaxation of effort. Kueh remains to be done if the farm lands of the Dominion are to be brought to a state of maximum productivity.