Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 4

Ox Thursday first a mectiug of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce is to he held. The meeting is called for the purpose of discussing «i practical and important subject. On the circular sent to the members announcing the meeting the following is stated to bo the business to be brought forward :—" To consider the advisability of recommending the Government to place on the Estimates next session a sum suiSeieiit to meet expense of a thoroughly competent agricultural aud analytical chemist." It is satisfactory to see that the Chamber has resolved to grapple with such a subject — one which, if the appointment referred to is carried out in a thoroughly satisfactory manner, cannot fail to bo of the greatest . importance to agriculture in this district. In discussing this question several considerations will require to be taken into account beyond mere competency to perform laboratory work. It will be necessary to place the gentleman who might bo selected beyond the reach of monetary temptation which it might be to tho interests of traders to provide. A responsible analytical chemist may do a great deal of injury to farmers, and no small amount of good to manure-dealers, by not departing from truth in the slightest degree. It has been known on more tliau ono

has called in the services of an analytical chemist, and allowed him : to make a selectionfrom a lot of SO.or even 100 tons of pr»pared manure of a good quality, and when the expert's certificate was sent in, to sell an inferior article 0:1 the authority of the certificate thus obtained. Such practices would have to be guarded against, and it was the continual checkmating of such dodgea that caused the large amount of feeling which existed for some time between Melbourne manure dealers and Mr. R. "W. E. Maelvor during his first yeara of residence in the Victorian capital. When a request came to him to analyse a sample of manure, the rule observed by Mr. Maclvor was to take no notice of it for perhaps three, six, or more months, and, when least expected, and generally when his presence was anything but welcome, he made his appearance and made selection of his samples for an analysis. This uncertainty of his visit had the effect, after a deal of grumbling and threats of legal proceedings, &c, of producing a thorough reform in the character of artificial manure in the Melbourne market supplied for Victorian consumption. But had not the liberality of the Hon. W. J. Clarke placed Mr. Maclvor in a position to be thus independent of his professional fees, he could not have acted as he did, nor produced the effects he has done. In selecting a chemist, such as the Chamber of Commerce desires, one should be chosen who is not only an expert in the laboratory, but who is able to hold his position on the platform with credit. Hβ would require to travel through his district, for the purpose of giving lectures beneficial to the farmers. : Wo question whether the Government would be willing to pay for such services, and think it would be more dignified and Belf-reliant were the Auckland Agricultural Societies to club together to secure the services of a scientific expert for the Auckland district.