DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 August 1924, Page 5

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NO EXTENSION TO BE MADI

(From our Parliamentary Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, This Day

Among numerous matters raised in the House last night was the subject of expenditure on agriculture. Various Liberal members urged that more money should be spent in helping the farmer and in extending the activities of the Agriculture Department. A definite statement that he was not going to recommend an increase in the size of the Civil Service was made by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Nosworthy; in reply. His reason was that ‘the div.il Service was already quite large enough for the size of the populaion. I am quite able to manage the Agriculture Department and to see that, we get a fair thing, said the Minister. We have good officers who will do what I want. I have no cause to find reasonable complaint with them. ±he Leader of the Opposition: Oh, cheer up. lam quite cheerful, replied the Minister, but I have to sit here and listen to men who have no responsibility finding fault and criticising . On speaker (Mr McKay) had complained, said the Minister that £2O was provided on the Estimates for. encouraging production of lime, but it should be remembered tiiat free carriage of lime up to, 100 miles on railways was costing the Government £30,000. Now he regretted that Mr McKay had not looked at the matter in that light.