AGRICULTURAL MATTERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 13 September 1909, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL MATTERS.

STATEMENTS BY THE Mll'fc3TEß ' SEED TESTING AND MOISTURE , IN BUTTER. IMPORTATION OF SMiAU, OWLS "•"L.LEGAL,. (United Pbess Association,) HASTINGS, Monday. On Saturday Mr Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, met a large, meeting of farmers and fruitgrowers;' and talked on matters of interest to the industries concerned. Witk re- : gard to the smal 1 bird pest, the Minister said that the Importation of small owls -was illegal, they being birds of prey. He Would investigate fully, and if he found it advisable he, would seek to, a.tuend, the. law to admit small owls. , Speaking of the : .'X establishment of seed-testing farms, tho Minister said "that the Govern-, ment Wanted to. establish one central station from v^hich to supply A. and P. Societies, leaving farmers to experiment further with seeds from X . this source. "Fax . this , station he . " wanted to utilise \h» m'ofley offered ■ by Mr Buchanan,. M.P., if he would let the Government have it. Tha '; Minister stated that he had divided. ..; the biological division oi the Agri- - cultural Department, and had told ' Mr Kirk to devote the whole of hisX time to fruit, while Mr Cockayne would be entrnsted with the seed section. The Minister urged dairy farmers to keep down the proportion ; of moisture in butter. Home people .- - wished to abolish the New Zealand Government certificate, lind sobuit- ..-•: tute arbitration. This would be most serious to the dairy industry, and it , was necessary that factories should - export good butter, and . so provider X the Government with a sound argu~ X ment against a change being made. X