EXPERIMENTAL DAIRY SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13273, 4 September 1906, Page 5

EXPERIMENTAL DAIRY SCHOOL.

A LARGE UNDERTAKING.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR

LANDS.

[nv TELEGRAPH-— correspondent.]

Wellington, Monday. The claims of Levin as a site for the proposed experimental daily school were brought under the notice of the Minister for Agriculture by a Levin deputation'today. The present Levin experimental farm comprises 800 ere*, and there are 400 acres close by utilised by the Government industrial farm. The deputation pointed out that if this; school were established at Levin tne Government would start with £40.000 worth of property, and with the advantages of a well-equipped farm. Within a certain area from Paikakariki, northwards along the Manawatn line, there were at least 9000 cows, and 350 suppliers to the factories, which in five years' time it was anticipated would, be doubled. They felt certain that if the Minister made a personal . inspection of Levin, he would recognise the justice of the claim. Moreover, the establishment of the Dairy Workers' Union made it essential that there should be a, classification of workers, and this would be greatly assisted by the issue of certificate from a school ,of instruction. ■-"'

The Hon. R. McNab reminded the deputation that the establishment of a dairy school of instruction kid only been decided upon within the last fortnight. Whatever might have been said about it in the' past, nothing had been done, and when he took up the portfolio of Agriculture, the first thing he did was to get it settled that there was to be an experimental station and school of instruction. So far as Ministers' promises in the past wen? concerned, the fact remained that nothing was ever done. At any rate, he could not" take up any other position at the present time beyond saying that the school would be established, but where he could not say, nor could he allow the scheme to be prejudiced by any previous promises. No doubt the deputation had made out a very good case. He intended to get a report from the Dairy Commissioner and his staff on the matter. Reports submitted from time tc time on this question were now before him, and were being looked into, The proposed experimental station and farm would be 'of such magnitude that there would be no possibility of duplicating or triplicating it in other pails of the colony. It would have to do for some years to come. If duplicated it would only be by establishing a similar institution in the South Island. It was going to be a pretty big thing, and put in a, place where it would bring most advantage to the colony as a whole. It would probably be "not fai removed from Wellington, "and," concluded the Minister, "it will be a school and station for experimental work in connection with the dairying industry, the like of which I think you will have to go to another counery, Canada, to find its equal.''