GOVERNMENT AID TO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6750, 6 July 1883, Page 5

GOVERNMENT AID TO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

" Aoeicola" writes :—The proposal to have a Government Department of Agricultnre,and a Minister at the head of it, is some slight recognition of the importance of agricultural interests in this colony. But the matter should not stop there. It would be well if our Government would take a leaf out of the Australian book. Laat year the Victorian Parliament granted £12,000 in aid of agricultural societies, that amount being divided amongst upwards of fifty of these useful associations; the highest grant being £1100 to one society, the lo.vest being £52; the average to each being about £220; while in New South Wales this year, in the ways and means provided by the Colonial Treasurer, £10,000 appeared upon the list for the purpose ot aiding agricultural societies. Now, -while in the North Island the number of these societies is not very large, still a little sympathy and monetary aid from Government might have a tendency to infuse more life into them, at the same time giving an impulse in the direction of new societies being inaugurated, or old ones resuscitated. As a rule, the principal work of agricultural societies appears to be the holding of an annual show ; but they might be of great seivice to farming interests if they would also take up other matters, which they could do if aid from Government were forthcoming. For instance, if farmera* clubs or agricultural associations were established in the various centres of the rural population, they might have useful agricultural libraries, and subscribe to some of the periodicals that are published in connection with their particular avocation. They would be able to determine -what was the best and most profitable method of farming iu their own localities, what crops should be grown, and what kind of stock kept. It would be possible, too, for such societies to> have artificial manures analysed. They might also go in for experimenting with manures. A field of enquiry -would be open, for them in reference to the diseases of stock or of plants, such as fluke or scab in sheep, or rust in wheat; and they might easily, by combination, introduce new varieties c£ cereals, roots, vegetables, or other plants,, as well as report upon any new agricultural implement. That these societies are urgently required, and have before them wide spheres of usefulness, who will question 2 And, therefore, they are well worthy of a little Government aid. This is an opportune time, while the Assembly is sitting, for some of the country members who take a deep, interest in the progress of agriculture to call attention to this subject. If possible they should get such a sum of money placed upon, the estimates as would be sufficient toaid in 30me degrees the various agricultnral societies established throughout the countrjv