DEPARTMENTAL MUDDLING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 April 1908, Page 2

DEPARTMENTAL MUDDLING

THE "INACCESSIBLE" FRUIT MODELS. THE Feililinjf "Star," referring to an .ibortdve Kolsjii effort to secure for the local Horticultural Society's exhibition the fruit models in the hands of the .Agricultural Department, says: — "Wo sincerely hope that the direct result of ihe protest from Nelson will be the rescuing of the. agricultural and pastoral oxhibits, their classification, and their exhibition in some suitable building in Wellington." • * • * Commenting on the foregoing, the Manawatu "Daily Times" "starts out" as follows: — "Well, frankly, we do | not (agree with the Feilding "Star"). We question very much whether it would not ba very much better and reach in the end more farmers if this museum wero placed in the Manawatu Show Grounds. That has been for some time a pet prefect of Mr J. M. Johnston. Admittedly there is a splendid collection stowed away in cellars in Wellington. Admittedly it cannot be seen there, and there is little/ immediate likelihood of any better arrangement being made. The Dominion Musuem, with its magnificent and valuablo collection, is so all housed that for many years past the exhibits shown have suffered, and splendid collections have had to remain packed away quite unavailable to students or the public. The Government's next effort is t« bo to provide the long-asked-for accommodation for this museum, and meantime the agricultural museum will have to wait. But it could easily enough be provided for in the PaJjnerston Show Ground, where a much greater number of fanners would see at during the year than even in Wellington, central aa that is for the North and South Islands. The opening of the Trunk Railway will mean greatly increased attendances at the Manawatu Spring and Winter Shows, and all those farmers would have an additional incentive in this exhibition. But it is not merely that. Some time ago we wrote as to the possibility of one of the really magnificent exhibits of the New South Wales Agricultural Department coming to tho Manawatu Show, and athe matter has been and will be, further under consideration. -And there are similar exhibits from other States. With these we would havoaai Australian exhibition hero probably permanent, which the addition of the "New Zealand Agricultural museum would make Australasian. One of Mr Johnston's commissions to Australia cm to go into this matter." • • • • • Neither of the papers mentioned above strikes the correct idea of what should bo done with the Agricultural Department's models. A considerable sum of money and a vast deal of labour have been expended in getting together tho valuable exhibits. The object in getting these, exhibits primarily, is that they may be object-lessons to those on the land. Now, how many farmers, or orchardists, or dairymen, or those connected with any of the. producing industries of the Dominion visit Wellington? But a very small percentage. Therefore, to build"* a museum in Wellington and to plave. therc.":n the Agricultural Department's exhibits would not only be a waste of moiwy, but it would defeat the very object that was in view in making tho collection, viz., the education of those, engaged in tho various walks of agricultural and pastoral life. A maximum degree of benefit would accrue <if the collection were made into a travelling exhibit and distributed throughout the Dominion, to be taken charge of by the various branches of the Agricultural Department. They should be available on application to Agricultural or Horticultural Societies, and at Cher timrs be left an exhibition at sptable places, where they could be inspected at any time by those desirous to nee them. It would not be advisable that one portion of the, collection should be left permanently in one place; but there should bo exchange between the provinces. In th ; s way in the course of time the whole, of the exhibits would do the round of the Dominion, and tin opportunity would br afforded to settlers all over" New Zealand to at some time or oth=r s?? the entire collection. One might think that the Agricultural Department, would hive embraced eager, ly opportunities to bring before those interested the hrgo and valuable collections that have b?en made— those opportunities being displays at Agricultural and Horticultural Shows. It >s_ a 1 ( very well for the Minister and Mr Kirk to express their regret that these opportunities cannot be availed of ; but somethin-' more than regret is required of the I Department, and that is the immediateresfue from oblivion and dry-rot ot much valuable property intended to bo available at all times for the purposes for which - : 1- was accumulated.