The North Otago Times THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1916 EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR NORTH OTAGO.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13666, 7 September 1916, Page 2

The North Otago Times THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1916 EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR NORTH OTAGO.

Wo do not know who is responsible for the pre-cmptory terms in which the "demands" fur an experimental farm for North Olago were couched, but we certainly think that the representatives of the North'.Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Oamaru Chamber of Comnierce, who are sufficiently versed in the ways of Ministers should know that even a member of the National Cabinet is not likely to be moved by bounce. Yesterday afternoon a joint committer, after considering the quest ion of an experimental farm for North Olago, decided to dispatch the following telegram In the Minister of Agriculture: "A joint meeting of the "North Otago Agricultural and Pas"lorai Association and Ihe Oamaru "Chamber of Commerce resolved unanl"nioiisly In urge you to at once give "favourable consideration to the dis"trict's request for the establishment "of an experimental farm here, Dis"appointed decision so- long delayed. "Olekaike School considered unsuitable "our requirements. Kindly wire stat"ing what you are prepared lo do." This message, addressed to a Minister of the Crown, supplies an illuminating illustration of how not lo preseul requests. It may lie news to our local

(•iillhih'kisis lo know tlial the 'Minister of Agriculture in not trilling with such

tin eminently important matter as experimental farms, Indeed any delay thai seems In have iiiTiinvil lias lii'i'ii (Inc 11) tlic thoroughness willi which the Minister is his invesligiilions.

■Aminlinjj In a special in a Clirisfchuivli paper yesterday moriiiug, (lie Hoard uf Agriculture, which was

established In advise I lie Government in regard In matters I lie development of agriculture, lias submitted a lone; report upon (lie .Slutt* exporimental farms uf the Tomiiiion. AUthesc' inifliiiilioiis were visik'il, awl it is apparent thai Mir board always had in mind the possibility of economically providinc for I in: rcquiremcnls of the •Hontli Island, which is admilledly short of Ihcse valuable aids'ln agriculture, In brief, il is pvoposed to remedy (he ili'licieiii'v by wiling surplus areas of Niirlh Island osjierinicntal farms, and applying the piDccods for the purchase of lands for yiale farms in Canterbury, Otiifi'o and,probably the West Coast of

the South Island, in accordance with a Ministerial promise to that effect, It will be seen that the 'Minister has not been asleep, There is a paragraph iu the report, however, Which calls for immediate consideration, The report says: "If the recouuncmlatious are carried out, there would probably tie something like £50,000 realised from the sale of this land, This money should be devoted to tho purchase of two farms of, say, 200 acres each, one in the agricultural district of Canterbury,. and another in South Otago or Southland, as the soil and climate of these two districts are quite different,'"' If this suggestion means anything, the claims of North Ofago might be disregarded, The Board of Agriculture is an important and well-informed body, and its decisions carry great weight with (he Minister. W.e expect the Minister will plead that the funds at his disposal restrict Ins progress, The claims of North Otago are unanswerable, and if the Minister cannot find the money for at least four experimental farms in the South Island, we can show him where he' can effect a great saving in his Department ami incidentally make possible the establishment of an experimental farm in this district. If the Minister wishes to save money let him close down the experimental poultry farms in the North and South Islands. Thousands and thousands of pounds of the taxpayers' money have been squandered in the maintenance of the Poultry Division of the Department of Agriculture. While many important districts in the Soulli Maud are without the assistance of experimental farms for the study of agricultural and pastoral problems, Mr McDonald's department spends, indeed we prefer to say it wastes, thousands of pounds on poultry experiments and poultry instructors. Poultry raising will novci' lie of any great importance as a primary industry, and why the Department of Agriculture wastes. so much money each ..year in their futile efforts to bolster up an industry that can never make good, passes our comprehension. By accepting the advice of the Board of Agriculture >. ami establishing experimental farms in Canterbury, Soulli Otago and West Coast, arid by acting' upon our suggestion to' close the poultry farms at, say, Milton and Burnham, and devoting the money saved to the establishment of a iirst-class experi{mental farm iu North Otago, the Minister, will not'only make a ilanio for himself, but he will facilitate the solution of many of the perplexing and pressing problems of the agricultural and pastoral industries which face the settlers of this district, , \